LOS ANGELES.–President Donald Trump is due to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Monday, July 7 at the White House with expectations that he will agree to a ceasefire in Gaza. Hamas has added new conditions to the latest ceasefire proposal of envoy Steve Witkoff, requiring Hamas to return the remain dead-and-alive hostages in exchange for a cessation of the war. Hamas wants three changes to the current Witkoff proposal to (a) let U.N. channels only continue to distribute food-and-medicine, (b) withdrawal of IDF troops and (c) commitment to end all fighting after the 60-day period ends. “Following a situation assessment, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructed to respond positively to the invitation for proximity talks and to continue negotiations for the return of our hostages based on the Qatari proposal that Israel agreed to,” Netanyahu’s office said.
Israel wants to “close talks” with Hamas and close all remaining gaps involved in the hostage release deal. All Palestinian factions seem inclined to take Israel up on the current deal. Hamas wants security guarantees from Egypt, Qatar and the U.S. to enforce the agreement in the event of a future breach. U.S. officials won’t accept Egypt, Qatar or the U.S. from guaranteeing security to Hamas. Hamas would be required to release eight live hostages on Day One, then two more on Day 50. Eighteen remaining deceased hostages would be returned in three phases over a 60-day period. Israel agrees to release 125 Palestinian prisoners plus 1,111 Gazans incarcerated by Israel over the two-year war. Facing Trump tomorrow, Natanyahu knows that Trump wants an end to the Gaza War, regardless of whether the current agreement meets all of Netanyahu’s conditions.
Netanyahu knows that for all intents and purposes, Hamas has been neutralized as a threat to the Jewish state. Once considered its archenemy, Hamas is a shell of its former self with most of its leadership killed for driven from Gaza. While certain Hamas figures remain in Gaza’s military tunnels, they present no danger to Israel, especially now that Iran now longer wants to pursue war with Israel. Twelve-days of war with Israel degraded Iran’s military, diminishing Hamas as a threat to Israel. Hamas seems reconciled to Israel staying in a buffer zone in the Gaza Strip, 1.2-1.4 kilometers into the Gaza Strip, with the army staying in the Philadelphia corridor in Southern Gaza. Netanyahu says Israel will make arrangements for emigration of any remaining Hamas members. Gaza would be turned over to a new Ramallah-based Palestinian Authority government.
Trump has had enough to all the details and excuses why Israel could not support a Gaza peace deal. When Netanyahu comes to the White House, he expects to nail down a 60-day ceasefire deal that would require Hamas to leave Gaza and turn the legal authority to a new Palestinian –controlled authority. Netanyahu can’t continue to argue that Hamas continues to present a clear and present danger to the Israeli state. With Iran no longer in the picuture, Hamas has been neutralized the same way as Lebanon’s Hezbollah. When Israel vaporized Hezbollah’s charismatic spiritual leader Hassan Nasrallah Sept. 27, 2024, Hezbollah essentially collapsed. When Israel liquidated Oct. 7, 2023 mastermind Yahya Siwar Oct. 16, 2024 then his brother Mohammed Sinwar May 13, 20125, it was the end of Hamas leadership in Gaza. Netanyahu know Hamas is no longer a threat.
Netanyahu knows he’s had many victories over the last two years but none greater that taking on Iran in a 12-day war. Israel’s air force picked its targets at will degrading the Iranian military, exposing it as a shell of military force. Whatever Iran has in ballistic missiles or enriched uranium, it’s not enough to defend the country. Netanyahu showed over 12-days that Iran was essentially defenseless to the IDF bombardment. So, when Netahayu meets with Trump at the White House, there’ a lot to celebrate, especially with Trump joining the fight with U.S. B-2 Stealth Bombers taking out Iran’s uranium enrichment program. Trump is looking now for a deal in Gaza, recognizing that Hamas no longer poses the danger to Israel it once did. Netanyahu won’t resist too hard about ending the Gaza War, knowing that major military objectives have been completed.
Whatever details remain in a Gaza ceasefire deal, Israel has completed most, if not all, of its objectives in Gaza. Eliminating Hamas completely was never a realistic goal, considering Hamas is an idea more than anything else. Whether or not Israel still has its enemies, it doesn’t mean it’s still under existential threat. Trump has made clear that if Iran revamps his nuke program, won’t hesitate to go back in with more B-2 Stealth Bomber strikes. Netanyahu got most of what he wanted in Gaza, neutralizing Hamas, but, more importantly, degrading the Iranian war machine to the point that it cannot really wage war. Trump will expect Netanayahu to celebrate the many recent victories and give the world peace in Gaza. Trump hasn’t accomplished the feat in Ukraine, but he’s ready for a big win in Gaza, something wanted by the international community.
About the Author
John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He’s editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.
