Trump upbeat on Gaza ceasefire talks despite lack of breakthrough

July 8, 2025

President Trump expressed optimism about Gaza ceasefire talks despite no breakthrough in the latest negotiations between Israel and Hamas in Qatar. During a Washington meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, Trump claimed the talks were "going along very well," though Palestinian sources indicated no progress has been made. The discussions, scheduled to resume Tuesday, involve a proposed 60-day truce where Hamas would release hostages while Israel withdraws from parts of Gaza.

Who is affected

Palestinians in Gaza (approximately 2 million people)
Israeli hostages being held by Hamas
Palestinian prisoners held by Israel
Israeli soldiers (five recently killed in northern Gaza)
Gaza civilians (at least 52 Palestinians killed by Israel in the past 24 hours, according to Hamas-run health ministry)
Neighboring countries to Israel who may be involved in Palestinian relocation plans

What action is being taken

Ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas are occurring in Qatar through indirect talks
Discussions are set to resume on Tuesday
Trump is hosting Netanyahu in Washington DC
Israel's defense minister has instructed the military to prepare a plan to move all 2 million Palestinians in Gaza to a southern camp
The US is planning to meet with Iran "in the next week or so"

Why it matters

The negotiations could potentially end the ongoing conflict in Gaza
The proposed 60-day truce would lead to the release of hostages and withdrawal of Israeli forces from parts of Gaza
Netanyahu's comments suggest Israel will maintain security control over Gaza indefinitely, effectively ruling out Palestinian statehood
Discussions about relocating Palestinians from Gaza raise serious human rights concerns, with the UN warning such actions could be "tantamount to ethnic cleansing"
The recent 12-day war between Israel and Iran may have created more favorable circumstances for ending the Gaza conflict

What's next

Ceasefire talks are scheduled to resume on Tuesday in Qatar
A US meeting with Iran is planned to take place "in the next week or so"

Read full article from source: BBC