Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to meet with US President Donald Trump at the White House on Tuesday to discuss issues including “victory over Hamas,” countering Iran, and enhancing diplomatic relations with Arab nations, according to AP. This will be Trump’s first meeting with a foreign leader since returning to office.
The meeting comes as US and Arab mediators work to negotiate the next phase of the ceasefire in Gaza, which has paused the 15-month war and resulted in the release of 18 hostages and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. Hamas, which regained control of Gaza following the ceasefire last month, has stated that it will not release additional hostages unless Israeli forces fully withdraw and the war ends.
Netanyahu is under pressure from far-right coalition partners to resume military actions once the first phase of the ceasefire ends in early March. He has reiterated Israel’s commitment to defeating Hamas and ensuring the release of all remaining hostages taken during the militant group’s October 7, 2023, attack.
Trump’s unclear stance
Trump has long been a strong supporter of Israel but has also committed to ending conflicts in the Middle East. He has claimed credit for helping broker the current ceasefire and is believed to be pursuing a larger regional agreement, potentially including diplomatic ties between Israel and Saudi Arabia.
Ahead of his departure, Netanyahu stated that he and Trump would discuss “victory over Hamas, achieving the release of all our hostages and dealing with the Iranian terror axis in all its components.” He added that by working together, they could “strengthen security, broaden the circle of peace and achieve a remarkable era of peace through strength.”
Israeli airstrike
On Sunday, an Israeli airstrike in central Gaza injured five people, including a child in critical condition, according to Al-Awda Hospital. The Israeli military said the strike targeted a vehicle bypassing a checkpoint in violation of the ceasefire agreement.
The ongoing war has claimed the lives of over 47,000 Palestinians, more than half of whom are women and children, according to Gaza’s health authorities, though they do not specify how many of the deceased were combatants. The conflict has heavily damaged several cities and displaced around 90% of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents.
Under the first phase of the ceasefire, Hamas is set to release 33 hostages—eight of whom are reported dead—in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. Israeli forces have withdrawn from most areas, allowing displaced Palestinians to return to northern Gaza as humanitarian aid continues to flow in.
Discussions on the second phase, which could involve the return of around 60 remaining hostages and potentially end the war, are set to begin on Monday. Mediators from the US, Qatar, and Egypt are working to reach an agreement before the ceasefire expires in early March.
Ceasefire deal
Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, played a key role in finalizing the current ceasefire deal and has met with Netanyahu in Israel ahead of Tuesday’s talks. Trump is reportedly aiming for a broader agreement involving Saudi Arabia, but Riyadh has insisted that any deal would require an end to the war and a viable path to Palestinian statehood.
Jordan’s King Abdullah has also been invited to meet with Trump at the White House on February 11. Jordan supports Palestinian statehood and has rejected Trump’s proposal to relocate Palestinians from Gaza to Jordan and Egypt. Netanyahu’s government remains opposed to the creation of a Palestinian state, and his far-right coalition partner, Bezalel Smotrich, has warned that he will withdraw support if the war does not resume next month, raising the possibility of early elections.
Although a ceasefire is in place in Gaza, violence continues in the occupied West Bank. On Sunday, Israeli forces expanded an operation from Jenin to the town of Tamun, claiming to have killed over 50 militants. The Palestinian Health Ministry reported that a 73-year-old man was shot dead in Jenin, while five others, including a 16-year-old, were killed in overnight airstrikes.