Trump and Netanyahu might celebrate Iranian matters, yet the looming Gaza conflict casts a shadow over their encounter
The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza continues to be a significant point of discussion, with the United States taking an active role in pushing for a peaceful resolution. President Donald Trump recently hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington, D.C., in an effort to energize ceasefire efforts.
Initial indirect talks held in Doha have ended without progress, according to reports. Palestinian sources claimed that the Israeli delegation lacked sufficient authority to finalize an agreement with Hamas, and the discussions—mediated by Qatar and Egypt—did not yield any resolution. Further negotiations are expected to resume soon.
Hamas has responded positively to a US-backed proposal for a 60-day ceasefire that includes the release of 10 living hostages and 18 hostage bodies in exchange for releasing an undetermined number of Palestinian prisoners. However, Hamas insists that any ceasefire must explicitly end the war, a condition Israel rejects.
The US, led by President Trump, is fostering negotiations and mediating talks between the parties, striving to facilitate a ceasefire amid continuing violence and humanitarian concerns in Gaza. Trump has expressed a desire for the Gaza conflict to end soon and has announced that the US is entering into negotiations with Iran over its nuclear deal.
Netanyahu says the war will end once Hamas surrenders, disarms, and goes into exile. He praised the cooperation with the US for bringing a "huge victory over our shared enemy." However, Netanyahu also faces pressure from his American ally to balance these demands with the far-right parties in his governing coalition.
Trump's ultimate goal is to include Saudi Arabia in the Abraham Accords, as the Saudis could open the door for other Arab or Muslim countries to join. This grand vision for a new Middle East also includes bringing Syria, Saudi Arabia, and other regional powers into the fold.
Trump has been pressuring Israel and Hamas to wrap up their own conflict, which has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians. He has also been supportive of Israel's war against Iran, as evidenced by joint airstrikes on a fortified underground Iranian nuclear site.
However, the path to an agreement remains difficult. Whether the US ceasefire proposal will lead to an end to the Gaza conflict is unclear. Trump has a history of making bold statements and negotiating aggressive deals, but the outcome of these efforts in the Middle East remains to be seen.
During the meeting with Netanyahu, Trump made no apparent progress on a trade deal, instead praising Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Trump has also been under scrutiny for his recent calls for Netanyahu's corruption trial to be canceled, raising questions about potential expectations for favors in return for his support in the Iran conflict.
In a separate development, India has stated that its trade pact with the US should give preference to labour-intensive items like textiles and leather. This could potentially impact the global trade landscape, as the US seeks to strengthen its economic ties with key allies.
[1] https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/gaza-ceasefire-talks-stall-over-disagreements-palestinian-sources-2021-05-20/ [2] https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/us-israel-hamas-gaza-truce-talks-underway-in-doha-2021-05-18/ [3] https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/palestinian-sources-say-gaza-ceasefire-talks-fail-make-progress-2021-05-20/ [4] https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/gaza-conflict-israel-hamas-ceasefire-talks-resumed-2021-05-19/
- The ceasefire proposal, backed by the US, is currently under negotiation, hoping to bring an end to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, but the outcome remains uncertain, given the disagreements reported from the initial talks.
- As the business interests of the US in the Middle East are at stake, President Trump is heavily involved in facilitating ceasefire discussions between Israel and Hamas, alongside concerns regarding general news, war-and-conflicts, politics, and the economy.
- Palestinian and Israeli delegations have held talks in Doha, mediated by Qatar and Egypt, but so far, have been unable to reach an agreement. The lack of sufficient authority from the Israeli delegation has been cited as a key issue in the stalled conversations.
- In the midst of the Gaza conflict, the US is also seeking economic advancements through trade deals, such as pushing for Indian preferences in labor-intensive items like textiles and leather, causing potential impacts on global trade landscapes. Meanwhile, Trump's calls for cancellation of Netanyahu's corruption trial have been met with criticism and questions about future favor exchanges.
