The Israeli delegation is led by Ron Dermer, Israel’s Minister of Strategic Affairs, and includes top defense and intelligence officials. While Israeli and Hamas representatives are not meeting face toface, the discussions are being mediated by Egyptian officials. Simultaneous consultations are being held in Cairo, where Hamas, Qatari, and American officials are present.

The negotiations follow Hamas’s reported acceptance of the majority of a ceasefire framework proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump, which allegedly includes a phased withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed those claims, labeling them as “baseless”, and reiterated that no Israeli agreement has been made on a staged pullout.

Speaking to the Israeli public on Saturday, Netanyahu confirmed that the release of all hostages held by Hamas remains the top priority for Israel. He stressed that no ceasefire deal will be finalized without guarantees on the safe return of Israeli civilians and soldiers still believed to be held in Gaza.

“We will not be pressured into any agreement that does not bring our people home,” Netanyahu said during a televised address. “Israel stands firm no staged withdrawal, no false promises, only a full resolution.”

According to Israeli officials, a 72-hour countdown will begin only once Hamas formally approves the deal in full. That timeline is meant to provide an opportunity for both sides to finalize security arrangements and for international mediators to ensure compliance.

While diplomatic sources describe the current atmosphere as “cautiously optimistic,” major hurdles remain particularly around the sequence of prisoner exchanges, guarantees of non-renewed hostilities, and humanitarian access to Gaza.

This round of indirect diplomacy marks one of the most serious pushes toward a truce since hostilities escalated earlier this year. The outcome may hinge on the ability of mediators in Cairo and Sharm El Sheikh to bridge the wide trust gap between the two sides.

He stated that the plan could lead to a fair resolution and enhance regional cooperation.

Abbas delivered these comments in a pre-recorded address to the United Nations General Assembly.

In a major diplomatic development, the White House has confirmed that President Donald J. Trump will host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for high-level talks in Washington next Monday. The meeting is expected to focus on a potential ceasefire in Gaza, ongoing efforts to secure the release of hostages, and broader regional security in the Middle East.

This marks Netanyahu’s first official visit to Washington since the latest phase of the Gaza conflict escalated tensions in the region. According to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, the Trump administration has maintained “constant communication” with Israeli leadership as the President continues to press for a ceasefire and long-term resolution.

“Bringing an end to the Gaza conflict is a top priority for President Trump,” Leavitt said during Thursday’s press briefing. “The President is fully engaged in these talks and determined to support efforts for peace while ensuring Israel’s security.”

The announcement follows the visit of Israeli Minister for Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer, who held a series of closed-door meetings with senior U.S. administration officials earlier this week. Discussions reportedly included topics such as the terms of a Gaza ceasefire, strategies to deter Iranian aggression, and security guarantees for Israel in a post-conflict scenario.

Netanyahu’s visit underscores a renewed push by the Trump administration to mediate a deal that could bring an end to the months-long war. Sources familiar with the diplomatic efforts say the administration is leveraging back-channel communications with Egypt and Qatar two key mediators with Hamas to bridge final gaps in a ceasefire and prisoner exchange proposal.

While both U.S. and Israeli officials have expressed cautious optimism, significant hurdles remain, including disagreements over security arrangements in Gaza and the timeline for Israeli troop withdrawals. Additionally, domestic political pressure on Netanyahu from hardliners within his coalition has made concessions more difficult.

President Trump, who has touted himself as a broker of peace in the past referencing the Abraham Accords as a model seeks to reignite American leadership in the region through strategic diplomacy.

Foreign policy analysts say next week’s meeting could be pivotal.

“This is not just a bilateral visit; it’s part of a broader geopolitical reset,” said Dr. Miriam Goldstein, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution. “The U.S. wants to reclaim its central role in Middle East diplomacy, and this meeting may help lay the groundwork for that.”

The White House has not yet released the full agenda for Monday’s meeting, but insiders expect it to include extended talks, a joint press briefing, and possibly the announcement of new humanitarian initiatives in Gaza.

As anticipation builds, global eyes will be on Washington next week for potential breakthroughs.