• Trump and Netanyahu hold multiple meetings focused on a Gaza ceasefire.
• Ongoing violence in Gaza reported with significant civilian casualties.
• Hamas warns that hostages will not be released without serious negotiations.
• Netanyahu insists on the elimination of Hamas’ military capabilities as a ceasefire condition.
• 60-day ceasefire proposal in discussions amid rising humanitarian crises in Gaza.

US President Donald Trump met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to negotiate a ceasefire in Gaza amid ongoing military hostilities, which have resulted in significant civilian casualties. As of the latest reports, over 57,000 Palestinians have been killed since the beginning of the conflict on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched an attack on Israel, prompting a fierce retaliation that continues to impact civilian populations severely, according to latimes, channelnewsasia, and cbsnews.

During their discussions, Netanyahu reiterated Israel's commitment to dismantling Hamas’ military capabilities and maintaining pressure on Palestinian authorities to lay down their weapons as a prerequisite for any ceasefire deal. He stated that if negotiations do not result in disarmament, Israel would pursue its military objectives through force, underscoring the ongoing conflict's severity, as confirmed by trtglobal and indiatimes.

As the discussions progressed, reports indicated that a fresh wave of Israeli airstrikes resulted in further civilian casualties, including the deaths of 34 Palestinians in one incident and 40 in another in Gaza, demonstrating the precariousness of the ceasefire negotiations. Trump's administration had initially expressed optimism about securing a truce, but the ongoing violence presents a critical challenge to these diplomatic efforts, as detailed by latimes and cbsnews.

The complexities of the negotiations have increased, with Hamas issuing warnings that no hostages would be released without serious engagement from the Israeli side, signaling an impasse that complicates the humanitarian crisis facing Gaza. Israeli officials articulated that resolutions to key negotiating points are necessary before any lasting ceasefire can be achieved, according to aljazeera and newsweek.

Netanyahu's administration is under public pressure due to recent fatalities among Israeli soldiers during the fighting, which has seen one of the deadliest periods for Israeli forces in months. His firm stance on not compromising with Hamas has led to heightened concerns that military operations might continue, contradicting global responses advocating for peace and stability in the region, as highlighted in trtglobal and latimes.