Netanyahu to meet Trump as Israel faces isolation over Gaza war

Facing increasing isolation abroad and mounting pressure at home, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will defend his intention to "finish the job" in Gaza when he meets U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday.

The meeting comes days after Trump unveiled a 21-point plan aimed at ending the war in the Palestinian territory during discussions with Arab and Muslim leaders on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly.

On Sunday, Trump hinted at "something special" to come in Middle East talks, adding in a post on his Truth Social platform: "WE WILL GET IT DONE!!!"

On Friday, Trump had told reporters in Washington "I think we have a deal" on Gaza, even as Netanyahu, speaking at the U.N., vowed to "finish the job" in Israel's war against Hamas.

But experts told AFP that Netanyahu appeared to be cornered, facing growing international and domestic calls to end the war.

"He has no other choice but to accept" Trump's plan for a ceasefire, said Eytan Gilboa, an expert on US-Israel relations at Israel's Bar-Ilan University.

"Simply because the United States and Trump have remained almost his only ally in the international community."

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'Comprehensive agreement'

In Israel, tens of thousands of protesters have pressured Netanyahu to agree to a ceasefire, and on Saturday they urged Trump to use his influence.

"The only thing that can stop the slide into the abyss is a full, comprehensive agreement that ends the war and brings all the hostages and the soldiers home," said Lishay Miran-Lavi, wife of Omri Miran, who remains captive in Gaza.

Directly addressing Trump, she urged: "Use your influence with Prime Minister Netanyahu."

Israel's international isolation has deepened in recent days, with countries including the U.K., France, Canada and Australia officially recognizing Palestinian statehood, breaking with longstanding US-led diplomatic protocols.

Trump's 21-point plan, according to a diplomatic source, envisions a permanent ceasefire, the release of hostages, an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and a major influx of humanitarian aid. 

Hamas political bureau member Hossam Badran said Sunday evening that the group "had not received any official proposal from Qatari or Egyptian mediators."

Arab and Muslim leaders have welcomed the proposal, but have also called for an immediate halt to Israel's military operations and any occupation of Gaza.

Some elements of the plan will prove hard for Netanyahu to swallow, and could even lead to the collapse of his right-wing government coalition.

Among the most controversial is the involvement of the Ramallah-based Palestinian Authority (PA) in the future governance of Gaza. 

The PA ruled the territory until Hamas seized control in 2007, and its potential restoration represents a red line for Netanyahu's hardline coalition partners.

While the U.S. proposal conditions the PA's return on implementing reform programmes, these changes "could take years" to materialize, Gilboa warned.

'Broad consensus'

Several far-right ministers in Netanyahu's coalition have threatened to collapse the government if he agrees to the PA's return, or if he ends the war without defeating Hamas.

However, opposition leader Yair Lapid has offered a parliamentary "safety net", promising his centrist Yesh Atid party would support a ceasefire and hostage-release deal -- but it is not clear whether other opposition parties would follow suit.

"This kind of broad plan would need a broad consensus," said Ksenia Svetlova, a former israeli cabinet member who now heads the regional cooperation NGO ROPES.

Svetlova predicted Netanyahu would only accept parts of the deal, while trying to negotiate or postpone decisions on other elements "seem difficult in this moment".

Another contentious point in the U.S. proposal is who would guarantee security in the Gaza Strip once the Israeli army pulls out and Hamas is disarmed. 

The proposal envisions an international security force comprising Palestinian personnel alongside troops from Arab and Muslim nations. 

However, critical details about command structure and operational control remain unclear.

"This plan is internationalizing the Gaza conflict in an unprecedented way," Svetlova said, "but without a clear plan on who will be the guiding star, what the end goals are, who will see it through."

"The unpredictability factor runs wild here, really."

Hamas loses contact with two hostages

In Israel, tens of thousands of protesters continue to exert pressure for a cease-fire. On Saturday, they called on Trump to use his influence to achieve it.

“The only thing that can prevent a descent into hell is a comprehensive and total agreement that ends the war and brings back all the hostages and soldiers,” said Lishay Miran-Lavi, the wife of Omri Miran, who remains captive in Gaza.

Hamas claimed on Sunday that it had lost contact with two hostages in Gaza City due to Israeli airstrikes, according to a statement. “The al-Qassam Brigades announce they have lost contact with two prisoners following brutal military operations and violent attacks in the Sabra and Tall al-Hawa neighborhoods over the past 48 hours,” the statement reported.

“The lives of the two prisoners are in real danger, and Israeli forces must immediately withdraw to the south of Street 8 and cease aerial operations for 24 hours starting from 6:00 p.m. today to facilitate attempts to rescue the prisoners,” the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades wrote in another statement.

In the past, Hamas had already announced that it lost contact with an Israeli-American hostage, who was freed a few days after that announcement.

Since launching its offensive on Gaza City, the Israeli army has repeatedly ordered Palestinians to move south. Gaza’s Civil Defense, the first responder organization operating under the authority of Hamas, reported 32 deaths on Sunday, including 12 in Gaza City.

Isolation

Israel’s international isolation has deepened in recent days, with several countries — including the United Kingdom, France, Canada, and Australia — recognizing the State of Palestine.

According to a diplomatic source, the American plan calls for a permanent cease-fire, the release of all abducted hostages, an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and a large influx of humanitarian aid.

Arab and Muslim leaders have welcomed the plan and called for an immediate halt to Israel’s military campaign.

However, some aspects may prove unacceptable for Netanyahu, who depends on far-right support to maintain his governing coalition.

One of the most contentious points is the proposed participation of the Palestinian Authority in the future governance of Gaza. “The likelihood of a reformed Palestinian Authority that completely changes its course, accepts Israel, and teaches its children to embrace coexistence and friendship with Israel rather than living to annihilate it. I don’t think that will happen,” he said.

According to the American plan, the return of the Palestinian Authority — which lost control of Gaza to Hamas in 2007 — would depend on internal reforms, but those “could take years,” says Gilboa.

'Global consensus' required

Several of Netanyahu’s far-right ministers have threatened to leave the government if he accepts such a role for the Palestinian Authority or ends the war without having eliminated Hamas.

“This kind of comprehensive plan requires an equally comprehensive consensus,” says Ksenia Svetlova, a former member of parliament and director of the NGO "Ropes" for regional cooperation.

According to British media, former Prime Minister Tony Blair could play a key role in a future transitional authority in Gaza.

Another contentious point: Who would guarantee security in the Gaza Strip once the Israeli army withdraws and Hamas is disarmed?

The American plan envisions an international security force that includes Palestinian units and troops from Arab and Muslim countries. However, the command structure and operational control are left unclear.

“This plan internationalizes the conflict in Gaza in an unprecedented way,” notes Svetlova, “but without a clear roadmap, defined end goals, or designated leadership to carry it out.” “The unpredictability factor is ever-present,” she adds.

At the U.N. podium on Friday, Netanyahu lashed out at the recognition of the State of Palestine by about ten countries — including France, the U.K., Canada, and Australia — earlier in the week.

The creation of a Palestinian state would be “national suicide” for Israel, he declared, also promising to “finish the job” against Hamas “as quickly as possible” in a Gaza Strip devastated by nearly two years of war.

The Israeli offensive in Gaza has so far resulted in 66,005 killed, mostly civilians, according to the Hamas-run Ministry of Health, whose figures are considered credible by the U.N.