In a significant development for the Middle East, U.S. President Donald Trump announced Monday that Hamas is showing interest in a ceasefire with Israel, signaling potential movement toward ending the nearly two-year Gaza war.
“They (Hamas) want to meet and they want to have that ceasefire,” Trump stated at a high-level White House dinner with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The gathering comes amid renewed U.S. involvement in mediation efforts, particularly through Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, who is expected to travel to Doha this week to join ongoing negotiations, according to dw.com
From a regional perspective, the renewed American push, supported by Qatari and Egyptian mediation, is seen as an important opportunity to de-escalate tensions and prevent wider regional spillovers.
White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt praised both Qatar and Egypt as “incredibly helpful partners” in seeking a resolution to the conflict, which has destabilized one of the world’s most volatile regions.
Netanyahu, while expressing openness to peace, remained firm on security concerns, warning that any independent Palestinian state could become a “platform to destroy Israel.”
Instead, he reiterated a position that Palestinians could govern themselves — but without sovereign powers that could pose a threat to Israel.
The dinner also served as a backdrop for a bold political gesture: Netanyahu officially nominated Trump for a Nobel Peace Prize, citing the recent U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities. “He’s forging peace as we speak,” Netanyahu said, highlighting the operation’s success as a turning point in curbing Iran’s regional ambitions.
While Trump stopped short of endorsing a two-state solution, he signaled readiness to push for a ceasefire. “The utmost priority for the president right now in the Middle East is to end the war in Gaza and to return all of the hostages,” said Leavitt.
Trump and Netanyahu expressed optimism that recent military action and diplomatic overtures might usher in a new phase for the region. “I think things are going to be really settled down a lot in the Middle East,” Trump said.
This marked Netanyahu’s third visit to the White House this year, underscoring the critical nature of U.S.-Israeli cooperation at a time when both the Gaza conflict and Iran’s nuclear ambitions dominate regional concerns.
Negotiations over a 60-day Gaza ceasefire proposal — previously stalled due to Israeli military actions — are expected to resume soon, with Iran talks also back on the agenda.
Trump said Tehran had expressed willingness to return to the table, though no official confirmation has been received from the Iranian side.
Iran’s newly elected President Masoud Pezeshkian confirmed that the attacks severely damaged several nuclear sites, with Iranian authorities still unable to access them.
