Trump pushes Israel for Gaza, hostage deal as he looks to expand Abraham Accords
President Donald Trump is putting pressure on Israel to end its conflict in Gaza and secure a hostage deal in order to expand the Abraham Accords. The Abraham Accords were a significant achievement of Trump’s first term, aiming to establish diplomatic relations between Israel and Arab nations in the Middle East.
Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer is scheduled to hold meetings at the White House on Monday to discuss ending the ongoing war in Gaza. Trump took to his social media platform, Truth Social, in the early hours of Sunday to urge Israel to make a deal in Gaza and secure the release of the hostages being held by Hamas.
Reports suggest that mediators overseeing the hostage negotiations are pushing Israel to send negotiators to Egypt, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has thus far refused to do so. Instead, Dermer has been sent to Washington to ensure alignment between the U.S. and Israel before negotiations continue.
Israel claims that Hamas is the obstacle to returning the remaining 50 hostages, including those abducted in the October 2023 attack. Netanyahu has expressed doubts about the fate of some of the hostages, including two Americans. The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs has reported that 27 hostages are believed to have been killed since the attack.
On Monday, Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs Gideon Sa’ar reaffirmed Israel’s commitment to reaching a hostage deal and ceasefire in Gaza. He mentioned Jerusalem’s acceptance of a recent proposal by Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, which Hamas rejected due to the absence of a permanent ceasefire and a plan for Israeli forces to withdraw from Gaza.
Ending Israel’s military operations in Gaza is essential for Trump’s goal of expanding the Abraham Accords to include more nations. Sa’ar emphasized Israel’s desire to add countries like Syria and Lebanon to the circle of peace and normalization, while safeguarding Israel’s security interests.
Trump has hinted at the possibility of adding more countries to the Abraham Accords, but nations like Saudi Arabia have made it clear that normalization is contingent on resolving the Israel-Hamas conflict. Trump expressed optimism about the potential for expanding the Accords during a recent interview, citing Iran as the primary obstacle to peace in the region.
Overall, the efforts to end the conflict in Gaza and secure a hostage deal are crucial steps towards achieving peace and stability in the Middle East. Israel’s willingness to negotiate and collaborate with international partners demonstrates a commitment to building a more peaceful and prosperous future for the region.
