Despite initial optimism from some US officials, very little concrete information emerged from the high-level talks. Al Jazeera reported that the secrecy and brevity of the meeting might suggest a "stumbling block" in reaching an agreement. This lack of transparency has fueled concerns about the progress of the negotiations and the challenges involved.
Before the meeting, Steve Witkoff, Trump's special envoy to the Middle East, had expressed hope that a ceasefire was nearing completion, with only one issue left to resolve. Witkoff had optimistically suggested a 60-day ceasefire could be achieved by the end of the week, which would include the release of ten live and nine deceased hostages.
However, Prime Minister Netanyahu's statements after the meeting indicated that Israel's military operations in Gaza were far from over. He confirmed that negotiators were actively working on a ceasefire but reiterated Israel's core objectives: to "finish the job in Gaza, release all our hostages, eliminate and destroy Hamas's military and government capabilities."
According to Al Jazeera, Israeli media sources suggested that Netanyahu faced "extreme pressure" from President Trump to secure a deal, yet no significant breakthrough was announced. The primary sticking point, as identified by Witkoff, appears to be the redeployment of the Israeli army. Israel reportedly intends to maintain control over Rafah and is considering a plan that could involve depopulating Gaza, complicating efforts to reach a comprehensive agreement.
For further details, you can refer to the original report from Al Jazeera: