On the eve of a pivotal White House summit, U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stand at the center of a high-stakes diplomatic push to end the devastating war in Gaza—a conflict that has already claimed more than 66,000 Palestinian lives, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The meeting, set for Monday, September 29, 2025, comes as Trump touts a “special” breakthrough in the works, while Netanyahu signals deep reservations about the American-led 21-point ceasefire and post-war governance plan.
Trump’s optimism was on full display Sunday, as he proclaimed on social media, “We have a real chance for GREATNESS IN THE MIDDLE EAST. ALL ARE ON BOARD FOR SOMETHING SPECIAL, FIRST TIME EVER. WE WILL GET IT DONE!!! President DJT.” According to Reuters, the President’s remarks echoed a week of intense negotiations with Israeli and Arab leaders, culminating in the unveiling of a 21-point plan at the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The framework, administration officials say, is designed to secure the release of all hostages held by Hamas, end the militant threat to Israel, and dramatically increase humanitarian aid flows into Gaza.
Yet, as the world watches, the path to peace remains fraught with obstacles. Netanyahu, fresh from a canceled appearance at a Jewish News Syndicate conference in New York to prepare for the White House talks, has publicly acknowledged his misgivings about the U.S. proposal. “We’re working on it,” he told Fox News on Sunday. “It’s not been finalized yet.” Israeli officials, speaking to CNN, confirmed that while most of the plan was coordinated with Netanyahu in advance, Israel objects to key elements—particularly any significant role for the Palestinian Authority or references to a future Palestinian state. “Netanyahu will not accept all of the outline as it has been initially published,” one official stated, with another adding that the Prime Minister will likely seek further changes before and after the U.S. finalizes the proposal.
For Hamas, the situation is equally uncertain. The group said on Sunday it had not received any new ceasefire proposals, but reiterated its “readiness to examine any proposals it receives from its mediator brothers in a positive and responsible manner, while upholding the national rights of our people.” According to NPR, a Hamas official confirmed the group had been briefed on the American plan but was still awaiting an official offer via Egyptian and Qatari mediators. Previously, Hamas has signaled willingness to release all hostages in exchange for an end to the war and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
Vice President JD Vance, speaking on “Fox News Sunday,” described the ongoing negotiations as “very complicated,” but expressed cautious hope. “I feel more optimistic about where we are right now than where we have been at any point in the last few months, but let’s be realistic, these things can get derailed at the very last minute,” he said. Vance outlined the plan’s three pillars: returning all hostages, ending the Hamas threat to Israel, and increasing humanitarian aid to Gaza. “So I think we’re close to accomplishing all three of those objectives,” he added.
The urgency for a breakthrough could not be greater. Gaza’s Health Ministry reported Sunday that the death toll has surpassed 66,000, with more than 168,000 wounded since the conflict erupted following Hamas-led militants’ attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. The Israeli offensive, according to NPR, has displaced around 90% of Gaza’s population, devastated much of the enclave, and triggered a catastrophic humanitarian crisis verging on famine in Gaza City. Local hospitals reported at least 10 people killed in recent strikes on the Nuseirat refugee camp, and residents described “nonstop” explosions overnight—evidence of the relentless pace of Israel’s military operations, which the army says targeted 140 Hamas sites in the past 24 hours.
International pressure on Netanyahu has intensified in recent weeks. Key Western allies have joined a growing number of countries recognizing a Palestinian state, while the European Union mulls sanctions and calls mount for sports and cultural boycotts against Israel. Despite the mounting criticism, Netanyahu remained defiant at the U.N. General Assembly on Friday, telling world leaders that Israel “must finish the job” against Hamas.
Yet, Netanyahu’s domestic political reality is no less complicated. Far-right allies, including Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, have threatened to collapse the government if the war ends without the “complete defeat of Hamas.” Ben Gvir was blunt in his message on social media: “Mr. Prime Minister, you do not have a mandate to end the war without a complete defeat of Hamas.” This internal pressure has made Netanyahu’s negotiating position even more precarious, with Israeli officials warning that the Prime Minister will resist any plan perceived as a concession to Palestinian statehood or to the Palestinian Authority.
Meanwhile, the human cost of the war remains front and center. On Sunday, families of Israeli hostages held a rally in New York’s Central Park, demanding an end to the conflict and the safe return of their loved ones. Dani Miran, father of hostage Omri Miran, told the crowd, “We do not lose hope. We keep fighting to bring Omri and all the remaining hostages home.” The anger among hostage families toward Netanyahu has grown, especially after the recent decision to intensify military operations in Gaza City, where many of the roughly 20 living hostages are believed to be held. Ilana Gritzweski, a freed hostage and partner of captive Matan Zangauker, accused Netanyahu of choosing “death over life,” imploring Trump: “President Trump, you have the power to end the war and bring all the hostages home.”
Diplomatic efforts continue on multiple fronts. The U.S. ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, is scheduled to travel to Cairo for talks with Egyptian officials, aiming to shore up support for the ceasefire and address fraying ties between Israel and Egypt. The relationship has soured in recent months, especially after Israel’s strike on Hamas targets in Doha, Qatar, and concerns about a potential influx of Palestinian refugees into Egypt. Israel, for its part, has expressed unease over an Egyptian military buildup in the Sinai, which it views as a violation of their 1979 peace treaty.
Amid these diplomatic maneuvers, the reality on the ground remains bleak. Humanitarian agencies warn that Gaza’s crisis is deepening by the day, with widespread destruction, mass displacement, and an urgent need for food, water, and medical care. The United Nations and independent experts continue to regard Gaza’s Health Ministry figures as a reliable—if grim—barometer of the war’s toll, even as the ministry does not distinguish between civilian and militant casualties. Women and children are estimated to make up about half of the dead.
As Trump and Netanyahu prepare to meet, the world waits to see whether the promise of “something special” can translate into tangible relief for the people of Gaza and a lasting end to hostilities. With the stakes as high as they come, and the human cost mounting by the hour, every word and gesture in Washington will reverberate far beyond the White House walls.