Trump hosting Netanyahu for White House talks amid Gaza ceasefire

U.S. President Donald Trump is acceptable to big Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for talks Tuesday astatine the White House with Israel’s ceasefire with Hamas militants successful the Gaza Strip astatine the apical of the agenda.

The talks travel astatine a cardinal signifier successful the ceasefire. Israel and Hamas person little than 4 weeks to hold connected the presumption of the 2nd phase, which would see the merchandise of each remaining hostages held successful Gaza, a imperishable halt successful warring and Israel’s withdrawal from the territory.

“I person nary guarantees that the bid is going to hold,” Trump told reporters Monday.

Ahead of the White House visit, Netanyahu met Monday with U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, who was portion of the propulsion to unafraid the ceasefire deal.

Netanyahu’s bureau said successful a connection that the gathering was “positive and friendly,” and that helium would conscionable with his Security Cabinet upon returning from the U.S. successful bid to “discus Israel’s wide positions regarding the 2nd signifier of the deal.”

Witkoff is expected to clasp talks with Qatari and Egyptian officials arsenic the 3 countries proceed successful their relation of mediating the halt successful fighting.

In summation to the ceasefire, Netanyahu said helium and Trump would sermon countering Iranian aggression and expanding diplomatic relations with Arab countries.

Trump brokered normalization agreements betwixt Israel and 4 Arab countries successful his archetypal term. He present is seeking a wider statement successful which Israel would forge ties with Saudi Arabia.

But Saudi Arabia has said it would lone hold to specified a woody if the warfare successful Gaza ends and determination is simply a credible pathway to a Palestinian authorities successful Gaza, the West Bank and eastbound Jerusalem, territories Israel captured successful the 1967 Middle East war.

The U.S. supports Palestinian statehood, but Netanyahu's authorities is opposed.

Hamas, a U.S.-designated panic group, has released 18 hostages truthful far, portion Israel has freed hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

The warfare successful Gaza began with the Oct. 7, 2023, onslaught successful which Hamas militants killed 1,200 radical and took astir 250 radical hostage.

Israel’s counteroffensive during 15 months of warfare has killed much than 47,500 Palestinians, much than fractional of them women and children. Israel’s subject says the decease toll includes 17,000 militants it has killed.

Some worldly successful this study came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.