President Donald Trump is meeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House to push for a deal to end Israel’s offensive in Gaza and secure the release of hostages.

Axar.az, citing NBC News, reports that Trump expressed optimism, saying there is a “real chance for peace in the Middle East,” despite Israel’s continued bombardment of Gaza and growing international recognition of Palestinian statehood.

Netanyahu faces mounting global criticism and pressure from Trump, who warned against annexing the occupied West Bank and condemned an Israeli strike on Hamas officials in Qatar that disrupted peace talks.

Hamas insists hostages will only be freed if Israel agrees to a permanent ceasefire and withdrawal from Gaza. About 48 hostages remain, with only 20 believed alive.

Trump recently presented a 21-point peace plan to Arab leaders and claims all sides are close to an unprecedented agreement, though Hamas says no new proposals have been received since the Doha attack. The conflict, which began with Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, assault that killed about 1,200 people and took 250 hostages, has left over 66,000 dead in Gaza.