Trump, Netanyahu to Meet As Gaza War Shadows Victory on Iran/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu meet in Washington amid triumph over joint Iran strikes. Yet Gaza’s ongoing war threatens to overshadow diplomatic victories. Trump pushes for a ceasefire that could reshape Middle East peace efforts.
Quick Look
- Trump, Netanyahu hail success after joint strikes on Iran.
- Gaza war remains major obstacle to broader Middle East peace.
- Trump urges ceasefire deal as regional normalization hinges on progress.
Trump, Netanyahu Seek Victory on Iran, Grapple With Gaza Conflict Overshadowing Talks
Deep Look
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump are poised to showcase their recent joint strikes on Iran as a major foreign policy success when they meet in Washington on Monday. But their triumph is clouded by Israel’s protracted war in Gaza, now dragging into its 21st month, raising urgent questions about whether Trump will push Netanyahu toward ending the conflict.
Trump has signaled he wants the Gaza fighting wrapped up following the recent 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran. Monday’s summit could breathe fresh momentum into a proposed ceasefire between Israel and Hamas — though whether a breakthrough will finally materialize remains far from certain.
“The optics will be very positive,” said Michael Oren, Israel’s former ambassador to the U.S. “But behind the victory lap are going to be some very serious questions.”
Before departing for Washington on Sunday, Netanyahu praised close U.S.-Israeli cooperation, calling it a “huge victory over our shared enemy.” He expressed cautious optimism about achieving a Gaza ceasefire, telling reporters he was working to secure “the deal under discussion, on the terms we agreed to.”
“I think the discussion with President Trump can certainly help advance that result, which all of us hope for,” Netanyahu said.
Ceasefire Hopes — But Stubborn Sticking Points
Israel and Hamas appear closer than at any point in months to a ceasefire deal that could halt fighting for 60 days, allow desperately needed humanitarian aid into Gaza, and potentially secure the release of some of the 50 hostages still held by Hamas.
But the thorniest issue remains unresolved: Will a temporary ceasefire end the war entirely? Hamas has said it’s willing to free all hostages in exchange for a full Israeli withdrawal and permanent cessation of hostilities. Netanyahu, however, insists the war will not end until Hamas disarms, surrenders, and leaves Gaza — demands the militant group refuses.
Trump, eager to burnish his credentials as a global peacemaker, has touted recent diplomatic wins between Israel and Iran, India and Pakistan, and Congo and Rwanda. He’s also openly pined for a Nobel Peace Prize.
In the Middle East, he’s pushing hard to end the Gaza conflict, which has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians, devastated Gaza’s infrastructure, and deepened Israel’s international isolation.
Yet the exact terms of the proposed deal — and whether it can truly end the war — remain in flux. Just days before Netanyahu’s trip, Trump struck a cautious note.
“I’m very optimistic — but you know, look, it changes from day to day,” Trump told reporters Friday. By Sunday evening, his hopes seemed narrower, suggesting a deal focusing on the hostages might emerge within the week.
A Shifting Trump-Netanyahu Dynamic
Trump and Netanyahu are more closely aligned than ever after U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. Yet their relationship has swung between harmony and friction.
When Netanyahu visited Washington in April, Trump stunned him by announcing U.S. talks with Iran on the nuclear deal, blindsiding Israel and freezing any Israeli military escalation. At that same appearance, Trump lavished praise on Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a vocal critic of Israel, and failed to clinch a U.S.-Israel trade deal amid Trump’s broader tariff expansions.
Trump’s recent declarations suggest he’s ready to lean harder on Netanyahu over Gaza. Last week, he pledged to be “very firm” with Israel about ending the war — though he hasn’t detailed what measures he might take.
Netanyahu faces a delicate balancing act. On one side, he must maintain ties with his crucial American ally; on the other, his far-right coalition partners fiercely oppose ending the Gaza war. Yet given the U.S.’s steadfast support during Israel’s military campaign against Iran, Netanyahu could find it harder than ever to say no to Trump.
On Sunday night, Trump said he also expects to discuss with Netanyahu “a permanent deal with Iran.” He might also seek concessions in return for his outspoken calls to drop Netanyahu’s corruption trial — a striking intervention in Israel’s domestic affairs.
“Trump thinks that Netanyahu owes him,” said Eytan Gilboa, a U.S.-Israel relations expert at Bar-Ilan University. “And if Trump thinks Netanyahu needs to end the war in Gaza, then that’s what he’ll expect him to do.”
Trump’s Middle East Vision
Beyond Gaza and Iran, Trump remains focused on his broader vision for reshaping the Middle East through expanded peace accords. The former president hopes to draw new countries into the Abraham Accords, the series of agreements that normalized relations between Israel and several Arab nations during his first term.
Syria could be a topic on the agenda. With President Bashar Assad ousted and new leadership in Damascus, experts believe conditions might be ripe for a nonbelligerency agreement with Israel. Yet Trump’s biggest goal remains persuading Saudi Arabia — the region’s heavyweight — to normalize ties with Israel.
The Saudis have signaled willingness, but only if serious progress is made toward resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, starting with concrete steps in Gaza.
“The most important thing for Trump is to end the war in Gaza,” Gilboa said. “That is the key to all regional peace in the Middle East.”
Whether Monday’s talks will deliver concrete progress remains to be seen. But as Netanyahu and Trump stride toward the cameras, the shadow of Gaza — and the formidable task of ending one of the region’s most intractable conflicts — looms large over their diplomatic show of unity.
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