Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened a high-level security meeting Sunday night amid growing international calls—led by U.S. President Donald Trump—for a ceasefire in Gaza.
The meeting took place at the Israeli military’s Southern Command headquarters in Beersheba, according to Israeli media reports. The discussions reportedly focused on the status of Israel’s ongoing military operations in Gaza and the possible paths forward, including escalation or a negotiated ceasefire.
The timing of the meeting appears to have been prompted by a public statement from President Trump, who posted on his Truth Social platform: "MAKE THE DEAL IN GAZA. GET THE HOSTAGES BACK!!! DJT". The remarks mark a notable shift in Trump’s tone since the Gaza war resumed on March 17th, after he had previously given Netanyahu a "green light" in March to break the January ceasefire agreement with Hamas.
Heavy fighting continues across the Gaza Strip. On Sunday, the Israeli military announced the death of Sgt. Yisrael Natan Rosenfeld, 20, of the 601st Combat Engineering Battalion, during clashes in the Kafr Jabalia area. His death brings the official number of Israeli military personnel killed since the start of the ground invasion on October 27, 2023, to 441.
Meanwhile, reports of civilian casualties continue to mount. Another mass casualty incident was reported near a U.S.-funded, Israeli-supported Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) aid distribution site on Sunday. Over 500 Palestinian civilians have been killed near these GHF-run centers since May 27. Last week, the Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported that some Israeli soldiers had allegedly received direct orders to fire on civilians approaching these sites—claims the military has said are under investigation.
Adding to the political tensions, an Israeli court canceled Netanyahu’s scheduled testimony in his long-running corruption trial, which had been set for Monday. The cancellation came shortly after Trump criticized the proceedings on Truth Social, calling the prosecution a “witch hunt” and claiming it was obstructing efforts to negotiate a Gaza ceasefire.
Netanyahu now faces a critical decision: escalate the war amid mounting casualties and international scrutiny or pursue a deal that could bring an end to the conflict—but at significant political cost.