Trump hosts Netanyahu at White House, day after claiming “all are on board” for “greatness” in Middle East
(source : ANI) ( Photo Credit : ani)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived at the White House on Monday for talks with President Donald Trump, just one day after Trump boasted on social media about a “real chance for greatness in the Middle East.” Trump shared the upbeat post on Truth Social on Sunday, saying, “ALL ARE ON BOARD FOR SOMETHING SPECIAL, FIRST TIME EVER. WE WILL GET IT DONE!!!”
This high-stakes meeting comes amid fresh U.S. efforts to broker peace in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. The U.S. recently rolled out a 21-point peace plan to tackle the Gaza conflict, as negotiations between Israel and Hamas stall following Israeli airstrikes on Doha earlier this month. The plan builds on growing global calls for both Israel and the U.S. to wrap up the fighting, which kicked off on October 7, 2023, when Hamas attacked Israel and killed about 1,200 people. Since then, Israel’s bombardment of Gaza has claimed more than 66,000 Palestinian lives, according to the Gaza health ministry.
Protests demanding an end to the Gaza war and the release of hostages held by Hamas popped up at the same time in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and New York. In New York, a group of American and Israeli Jews led the rally without any formal organization ties, and they welcomed everyone to join in.
Speculation is swirling around the Netanyahu-Trump summit, especially with a press conference added to the schedule. Sources from The Times of Israel suggest the Trump administration might reveal a finalized deal to end the Gaza conflict and free the remaining Israeli hostages. The U.S. already has early support from key Arab and Muslim allies for handling Gaza’s postwar needs.
Israel mulled over the plan on Sunday, but Hamas hasn’t even seen it yet. One key part of the 21 points allows much of the agreement to push ahead without Hamas’s buy-in. That includes setting up a new transitional government of Palestinian experts and deploying an international force to stabilize areas cleared of Hamas fighters—covering most of the Gaza Strip.
Still, Israel shows no signs of pausing its military push in Gaza City and elsewhere until Hamas releases the 48 hostages still in captivity. Without that step, a full halt to the offensive seems unlikely.
Before heading to Washington, Netanyahu huddled with West Bank settlement leaders on Sunday night. He plans to bring up Israel’s potential sovereignty over parts of the West Bank during his chat with Trump. But he admitted the situation feels “complicated,” hinting that annexation isn’t in the cards right now. Netanyahu’s right-wing supporters, including those in settlements, keep pressing for it—especially after several Western nations recognized a Palestinian state. Trump has flat-out rejected the idea, and the United Arab Emirates, which normalized ties with Israel five years ago, called it a “red line.”
Trump sounded optimistic just days ago. On Friday, while speaking to reporters on the White House South Lawn, he said, “It’s looking like we have a deal on Gaza. I think it’s a deal that will get the hostages back. It’s gonna be a deal that will end the war.” Those comments followed the rollout of the 21-point initiative during Trump’s meetings with Arab leaders on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.
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