U.S. President Donald Trump will host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Monday, pushing a proposal aimed at ending the Gaza war and opening the door to broader Middle East peace.
The meeting comes as several major U.S. allies — including Britain, France, Canada and Australia — recognized Palestinian statehood, defying opposition from Washington and Tel Aviv. Netanyahu, facing mounting international isolation, seeks to reaffirm Israel’s ties with its closest ally.
At the United Nations last week, Netanyahu lashed out at what he called a “disgraceful decision” by Western nations to recognize Palestine. Many delegates walked out of his speech at the General Assembly, underscoring Israel’s growing diplomatic challenges nearly two years into the war with Hamas.
@bbcnews Dozens of people walked out of the United Nations General Assembly in New York as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took to the podium. In his speech, he said recognition of a Palestinian state is “sheer madness, it’s insane and we won’t do it”, adding that recognition by several other countries is “disgraceful”. #BenjaminNetanyahu #UNGA #UN #UnitedNations #NewYork #BBCNews ♬ original sound – BBC News
Trump pushes for elusive Gaza deal
Trump told Reuters on Sunday he hoped Netanyahu would agree to a framework that would secure the release of hostages, halt Israeli attacks on Qatar, and launch new dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians.
“We’re getting a very good response because Bibi wants to make the deal too. Everybody wants to make the deal,” Trump said, crediting leaders from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, Jordan and Egypt for their assistance. “It’s called peace in the Middle East, more than Gaza. Gaza is a part of it. But it’s peace in the Middle East,” he added.
A senior Israeli official, however, said it was “too early to tell” if there was consensus on the proposal, noting Netanyahu would give Israel’s response during Monday’s talks.
War pressures and political stakes
Netanyahu faces pressure at home from families of hostages and a war-weary public, according to opinion polls. Israel’s far-right government has rejected the idea of a Palestinian state and pledged to continue fighting until Hamas is dismantled.
The conflict has devastated Gaza, where local health officials report more than 65,000 Palestinians killed. Hunger and humanitarian collapse are spreading as much of the enclave lies in ruins.
The International Criminal Court has issued a warrant for Netanyahu on alleged war crimes, charges Israel rejects, saying the court has no jurisdiction.
Annexation tensions
While Trump and Netanyahu have largely aligned, differences may surface. Some Israeli ministers have called for extending sovereignty over the occupied West Bank in response to growing recognition of Palestinian statehood.
Trump, however, said last week he would not allow Israel to annex the territory, warning such a move could unravel the Abraham Accords — the U.S.-brokered agreements that normalized Israel’s relations with several Arab states.
