Inside the Trump - Netanyahu Meeting

U.S. President Donald Trump welcomed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the White House for a high-stakes meeting focused on advancing a Gaza ceasefire and addressing broader Middle East challenges. The talks, held over a private dinner in the White House Blue Room, marked Netanyahu’s third visit since Trump’s return to office in January 2025, underscoring the close U.S.-Israel alliance. The meeting coincided with indirect negotiations in Qatar between Israel and Hamas, mediated by Qatar and Egypt, aimed at securing a 60-day ceasefire and hostage-release deal.

The discussions covered critical issues, including the 21-month Gaza war, triggered by Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel. Trump, optimistic about a deal, predicted a potential agreement within days, citing Israel’s acceptance of ceasefire terms, though Hamas insists on a permanent end to hostilities and full Israeli withdrawal, demands Netanyahu rejects, vowing to eliminate Hamas.

Netanyahu presented Trump with a letter nominating him for the Nobel Peace Prize, praising his role in regional stability, including U.S. airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities during the 12-day Israel-Iran war in June 2025. The leaders also explored normalizing Israel’s ties with Arab states like Saudi Arabia, which demands a Palestinian state, and discussed U.S.-led talks with Iran and Syria to curb regional tensions. Public pressure in Israel is mounting for a ceasefire to free the remaining 50 hostages, about 20 believed alive, but Netanyahu faces resistance from hardline coalition partners opposing any halt to military operations.

The Qatar talks, involving Israeli negotiators and Hamas, remain deadlocked over aid distribution, Rafah crossing access, and troop withdrawal timelines. Hamas seeks UN-managed aid, criticizing the U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation’s operations, which have seen deadly incidents at distribution sites. Despite challenges, Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are pushing for progress, leveraging Iran’s weakened position after U.S.-Israeli strikes to pressure Hamas.