Trump and Netanyahu Meet as Gaza War Pressure Mounts/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met President Donald Trump at the White House Monday as pressure builds to end the nearly two-year Gaza war. While Trump has been Netanyahu’s most steadfast ally, Washington is showing signs of impatience, and U.S. officials are pushing both Israel and Hamas toward a ceasefire and hostage deal.
Trump-Netanyahu White House Meeting Quick Looks
- Netanyahu meets Trump in Washington after defiant U.N. speech
- White House urges immediate ceasefire and hostage release deal
- Trump voices confidence: “I’m very confident” a deal is near
- U.S. proposal calls for ceasefire, hostage releases, Israeli withdrawal
- Netanyahu risks coalition collapse if he accepts a ceasefire
- Trump blocks Israeli annexation of West Bank to appease allies
- International pressure grows: 66,000 Palestinians killed, 90% displaced
- Several Western and Arab nations recognize Palestinian statehood
Trump and Netanyahu Meet as Gaza War Pressure Mounts
Deep Look
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived at the White House on Monday for high-stakes talks with President Donald Trump, a meeting that could prove pivotal in determining the future of the nearly two-year-old war in Gaza.
The encounter comes at a fraught moment for both leaders. Netanyahu’s government is politically fragile at home and increasingly isolated abroad, while Trump, though supportive of Israel’s military campaign, is under pressure to secure progress toward ending a conflict that has drawn growing international outrage.
Trump Signals Optimism
As cameras rolled during Netanyahu’s arrival, Trump was asked if he believed a deal to end the fighting between Israel and Hamas was close.
“I am. I’m very confident,” he replied.
Hours earlier, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stressed the administration’s urgency. “Ultimately, the president knows when you get to a good deal, both sides are going to leave a little bit unhappy,” she said. “But we need this conflict to end.”
Trump and Netanyahu first met privately with aides in the Oval Office, with a joint press conference scheduled for later in the day. The meeting is widely viewed as one of the most consequential between the two men, who have maintained a close but increasingly complicated alliance.
A Strained Alliance
Trump has stood firmly behind Netanyahu since the Gaza war began, even coordinating with him during Israel’s brief conflict with Iran earlier this year, when U.S. stealth bombers struck Iranian nuclear sites. He has also dismissed Netanyahu’s corruption trial as a “witch hunt.”
But strains have surfaced. Trump was angered by Israel’s failed strike in Qatar targeting Hamas leaders, which embarrassed U.S. allies mediating ceasefire talks. He has also sought to block Israeli annexation of the West Bank, a policy pushed by Netanyahu’s right-wing partners, warning it would kill prospects for a two-state solution. Analysts say these moves were as much about helping Netanyahu manage domestic pressures as appeasing Arab and Muslim allies.
“Netanyahu might have to choose between Trump and his coalition members,” said Eytan Gilboa, a U.S.-Israel relations expert. Researcher Oded Ailam added that Trump is likely to press for a permanent ceasefire, leaving Netanyahu in a precarious position ahead of elections.
U.S. Peace Proposal
According to Arab officials briefed on Trump’s 21-point proposal, the plan envisions:
- An immediate ceasefire
- The release of all hostages within 48 hours
- A gradual Israeli withdrawal from Gaza
- The end of Hamas rule and the group’s disarmament
- The creation of an international security force to police Gaza
- A Palestinian technocrat committee managing civilian affairs, later transferring authority to a reformed Palestinian Authority
Hamas, which is believed to hold 48 hostages (20 thought alive), has not formally responded. The group insists on a full Israeli withdrawal and the establishment of a Palestinian state. Netanyahu has repeatedly rejected allowing the Palestinian Authority a role in Gaza’s future.
Netanyahu’s Dilemma
If pressed by Trump, Netanyahu may attempt to draw “red lines” in any deal — including guarantees that Hamas be dismantled and that Israel retain the right to strike Gaza if hostilities resume. Such conditions could help him sell the agreement to his coalition but risk alienating his far-right partners.
Netanyahu acknowledged in a Fox News interview Sunday that Israel was “working with President Trump’s team … and I hope we can make it a go.” At the U.N. last week, he repeatedly praised Trump, calling him an “essential partner.”
International Pressure Intensifies
Despite Trump’s backing, Israel is losing support abroad. At a U.N. Security Council session, numerous countries condemned the scale of Israel’s offensive, even while recognizing Hamas’ October 2023 attack that killed 1,200 Israelis and triggered the war.
According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, more than 66,000 Palestinians have been killed, and 90% of Gaza’s population has been displaced. Famine is spreading due to Israel’s restrictions on aid deliveries. The humanitarian toll has spurred 28 Western-aligned nations to call for an immediate ceasefire, while ten countries — including Britain, France, Canada, and Australia — have recognized Palestinian statehood.
Several Arab states with prior ties to Israel have accused it of genocide. The International Court of Justice is weighing genocide allegations brought by South Africa, charges Israel vehemently denies.
What’s at Stake
For Netanyahu, the White House meeting is both an opportunity and a risk. Agreeing to Trump’s terms could end a devastating conflict and win temporary reprieve abroad but might fracture his ruling coalition. For Trump, the talks represent a chance to broker what he has billed as a historic Middle East breakthrough — though similar pronouncements in the past have fallen flat.
The press conference scheduled for Monday afternoon will reveal whether this meeting produces a framework for peace or simply another round of promises.
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