US President Donald Trump will host Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Monday, July 7, an administration official confirms to @TimesofIsrael.

RT @TimesofIsrael: After a month, deadly shootings near Gaza aid sites still a near-daily menace . ✍️@nurityohanan & @JacobMagid . https://….

Egypt is hoping to use Sharm el-Sheikh as platform for proximity talks on remaining disagreements in negotiations, including flow of humanitarian aid, the redeployment of Israeli troops and the transition from a temporary ceasefire to a permanent one, source familiar says. (6/6).

The two sources say that the US has yet to join Egypt in urging Israel to send a delegation to Sharm el-Sheikh, accepting Jerusalem’s desire to see how the conflict with Iran plays out in the coming days. (5/6).

The Arab diplomat cautioned against the approach, asserting that Hamas hasn’t budged from its demand for an end to the war, despite repeated predictions from Israeli officials that various shifts in regional dynamics would lead the terror group to capitulate. (4/6).

But the two sources say Israel is holding off on sending a delegation in order to wait and see how the war with Iran develops, hoping that a further weakened Tehran will lead to a softening of the positions of its Hamas proxy. (3/6).

Egypt has proposed hosting the meeting in Sharm el-Sheikh, as it wouldn’t require Israeli officials to fly there, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran. (2/6).

Egypt is seeking to host delegations from Israel and Hamas in Sharm el-Sheikh to advance long-stalled negotiations on a hostage release and ceasefire deal in Gaza, an Arab diplomat and a second source familiar with the matter tell @TimesofIsrael (1/6).

A source involved in deliberations argued that if Israel is moving to collapse the PA even before Paris has made decision, there is less of justification to hold off on recognizing a Pal state. Saudi Embassy in DC & UK’s UN Mission didnt respond to requests for comment. (16/16).

Smotrich responded to the move by the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Norway by directing his office to waive the indemnity that Israeli banks have been given to correspond with Palestinian banks, in a move that risks paralyzing the Pal economy if implemented. (15/16).

For its part, Paris did not join London in sanctioning far-right Israeli ministers Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich on Tuesday. (14/16).

Starmer is scheduled to already be on the Western hemisphere next week for the G7 in Canada, which ends Tuesday, the same day that the four-day UN confab is slated to commence. MBS has also been invited to attend the G7 summit, giving him a shorter commute to NYC as well.(13/16).

MBS’s attendance would likely draw additional world leaders to attend the conference, with the Arab diplomat expressing hope that UK PM Starmer would be among them. “France would like the UK to join it in recognizing a Palestinian state,” a Western diplo said. (12/16).

Abbas himself has not confirmed whether or not he will attend, but source familiar said he's planning to do so & give speech similar to what he expressed in letter. An Arab diplo said MBS directed aides to prepare for him to attend UN confab, even though he hasnt decided (11/16).

an invitation to Arab/intl forces to deploy in Gaza to stabilize the security situation in the Strip; a commitment to continue reforming the PA, including by holding elections within a year; and backing for a peace deal w/ Israel that creates a demilitarized Pal state(10/16).

The letter saw Abbas stake out a series of positions that fall in line with those of France and Saudi Arabia, including the PA’s readiness to assume governing responsibilities for Gaza; a call for Hamas to step down and hand over its weapons to the PA;. (9/16).

A spokesperson for France’s Mission declined a request to comment, but a Western diplomat said the chances of Paris recognizing a Palestinian state were boosted by a letter that Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas sent earlier this week. (8/16).

Supporters of the move say joint intl recognition of Israel & Palestine helps actualize 2-state solution — which Hamas opposes — & that waiting for perfect conditions while maintaining status quo on the ground helped create conditions that allowed Oct 7 attack to unfold. (7/16).

For its part, Israel has asserted that unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state would amount to a “reward” to Hamas for Oct 7. (6/16).

There is also concern whether the move will provoke punitive steps by Israel to collapse the PA or formally annex parts of West Bank. Some opponents also warn itll prove merely symbolic if not coupled w/ broader diplomatic initiative w/ which Israel is willing to cooperate(5/16).