Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has prepared to leave for a meeting with US President Donald Trump on Sunday to strengthen ties with Washington after the tensions with the previous administration in the White House over the Gaza War. Netanyahu, the first foreign head of government to visit Trump since his inauguration a month ago, is leaving while the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip is still in effect and negotiations over the next phase are expected to begin this week.
The negotiations over the next phase of the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip are scheduled to begin in Washington tomorrow, according to Israel. Netanyahu will meet with US Special Envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff and discuss Israel’s negotiating positions, according to the office of the Israeli Prime Minister. The next day, Netanyahu will meet with Trump at the White House in a “historic meeting” and discuss, among other things, the future of the devastated Gaza Strip, it was said.
During his meeting with Trump, the agenda for Tuesday will include “hostages, dealing with all elements of the Iranian axis and other central issues” according to Netanyahu’s office. Before his departure, Netanyahu said:
“The decisions we have made in this war have already changed the face of the Middle East. Our decisions and the courage of our soldiers have redrawn the map. But I believe that we can still change it for the better in close cooperation with President Trump.”
Israel and Hamas had agreed in indirect talks to begin negotiations over a permanent end to the war and the release of all remaining hostages on the 16th day of the ceasefire, which is tomorrow. Right-wing Israeli politicians have threatened to leave the government if Netanyahu pursues the second phase of the ceasefire agreement. He could risk the collapse of his coalition.
Netanyahu, against whom an international arrest warrant has been issued for war crimes in the Gaza Strip, had a tense relationship with Trump’s predecessor Joe Biden and has not visited the White House since his return to office in late 2022.