US President Donald Trump is scheduled to host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Monday for a critical discussion centered on advancing a US-backed peace plan for Gaza. The meeting comes just days after Netanyahu, speaking at the United Nations, vowed to “finish the job” against the Palestinian militant group Hamas.
This visit marks Netanyahu’s fourth trip to the White House since the return of the Trump administration. The two leaders are scheduled to hold a joint news conference on Monday at 1:15 pm US Eastern time (10:45 pm IST).
Trump Pushing for a Breakthrough Deal
President Trump is expected to strongly advocate for the Gaza peace plan, which is reportedly being finalized following talks with various Arab leaders last week. The proposed deal aims to achieve three main objectives:
- End the nearly two-year war in Gaza.
- Free all hostages currently held by Hamas.
- Disarm the Palestinian militant group.
On Sunday, Trump hinted at a significant development, writing on his Truth Social platform: “All are on board for something special, first time ever. We will get it done!!”
However, the Israeli Prime Minister has shown reluctance to halt the military offensive in Gaza City, which has recently forced thousands of Palestinians to flee.
US-Israeli Friction and International Proposals
Despite being a traditionally staunch ally of Netanyahu, Trump has recently signaled frustration, having issued several warnings to the Israeli leader. Last week, Trump cautioned Netanyahu against annexing the West Bank and publicly opposed Israel’s recent strike on Hamas members in the key US ally, Qatar.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum has directly appealed to President Trump to enforce the proposed Gaza ceasefire deal and “stand firm against any attempts to sabotage the deal you have brought forth.”
According to Natan Sachs, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute, the outcome of the meeting will likely depend on the degree of pressure Trump is willing to exert on Netanyahu to accept the deal, which reportedly still lacks firm commitment from both Israel and Hamas. Sachs noted that while Netanyahu favors “continuing the war and defeating Hamas,” it is “not impossible for Trump to convince him otherwise.”
Recent reports suggest a detailed 21-point, US-led deal is taking shape, which includes a disarmament of Hamas, the release of all hostages, and an immediate ceasefire. Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair is rumored to be the potential leader of a proposed Gaza International Transitional Authority. This body would operate with support from the UN and Gulf nations before eventually handing control to a reformed Palestinian Authority (PA).
Netanyahu, however, has publicly rejected the idea of the Ramallah-based PA governing Gaza, which it lost control of to Hamas in 2007, expressing skepticism that the PA could be sufficiently reformed to accept a Jewish state.
The war in Gaza began in October 2023 following a terror attack by Hamas in southern Israel that killed approximately 1,219 people, mostly civilians. Israel’s subsequent military bombardment of the Gaza Strip has since killed over 66,000 Palestinians, including women and children.