US President Donald Trump met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for 90 minutes at the White House on Tuesday, the second meeting between the two during Netanyahu's visit to Washington.
The meeting concluded without any statements, declarations, or "reading of the meeting." Earlier that day, Trump's special envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, spoke about the ongoing rapprochement talks between Israel and Hamas in Qatar, saying, "We had four points, and now we have only one point left after two days." Witkoff added that he is "optimistic that by the end of this week, we will reach an agreement that will lead to a 60-day ceasefire."
Al-Quds.com learned that Witkoff postponed his trip to Qatar, which was scheduled to take place immediately after the meeting, perhaps by a day or two. Al-Quds also learned that a Qatari delegation arrived in Washington on Tuesday to meet with Witkoff ahead of Trump's meeting with Netanyahu.
Reports indicated that Witkov was heading to Qatar to announce a ceasefire before the end of the week, a 60-day ceasefire.
According to sources, Witkoff's visit to Qatar depends on the conclusion of indirect talks between Israel and Hamas, mediated by Qatar and Egypt. The special envoy is not expected to visit Qatar until all issues are agreed upon between the two sides. Rumors have circulated that the US envoy is optimistic about a "major event" expected to take place later this week.
Haaretz quoted a non-Israeli source as saying that the humanitarian aid issue has been resolved, as Israel and Hamas agreed to transfer it via international organizations. These organizations will not be affiliated with either Israel or Hamas.
For her part, the official spokesperson for the US State Department, Tammy Bruce, reiterated the US administration's confidence in the capabilities and professionalism of the so-called "Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF)," which was created by Israel and the United States and is run by American mercenary groups. GHF delivers aid to Palestinians through four distribution centers (under the control of the Israeli occupation army). The Israeli army has killed more than 650 Palestinian citizens seeking aid, and American mercenary teams have also participated in the killing of Palestinian civilians, according to a report by the Associated Press.
The administration refused to respond to a question about whether any investigation would be opened into the American personnel who opened fire on unarmed Palestinians.
Spokesperson Tammy Bruce insists in her twice-weekly press conferences that distributing aid through the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) is the only way to ensure that Hamas does not steal humanitarian aid and sell it on the black market.
Hamas is demanding guarantees from the United States that the war will not resume after the 60-day ceasefire. According to sources, the main dispute between the two sides is control of the Morag Corridor, which is close to the Philadelphi Corridor. Netanyahu insists on keeping the corridor under Israeli control, at the request of Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, and also to enable the plan to relocate Gaza's civilian population to a town built on the ruins of the Rafah area.
שתף את דעתך
Trump-Netanyahu meeting ends without statement; Witkov postpones visit to Qatar