Trump To Host Netanyahu In Close Door Meeting Today, Likely To Push For End To Gaza War

News18

07-07-2025

Last Updated:
Netanyahu said before departing for the US that Donald Trump could "definitely help advance" a deal with Hamas in Gaza.
In a third meeting between the two since Donald Trump took over power, the US President will host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday to push for an end to the war in Gaza.
This comes after Israel and Hamas held indirect talks in Qatar on the ceasefire. The negotiations began on Sunday, July 6, and continued into Monday.
Trump has said that he believes there is a 'good chance" that there would be an agreement this week for a ceasefire in Gaza.
The President will host dinner behind closed doors with Netanyahu, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said. Trump has, in recent weeks, expressed increasing concerns over the Gaza situation.
It was Trump's 'utmost priority…to end the war in Gaza and to return all of the hostages," Leavitt said at the briefing on Monday.
She said Trump wants Hamas to accept a peace deal right away. The deal, supported by Israel, includes a ceasefire and the release of hostages held in Gaza, in return for freeing Palestinian prisoners. The proposal was put together by the US.
The latest round of talks about the Gaza war started on Sunday in Doha. The two sides, Hamas and Israel, were kept in separate rooms in the same building.
A second round of talks took place on Monday, but a Palestinian official told AFP that there was 'no breakthrough." The official also said that both sides were expected to continue the talks later that same day.
Speaking before heading to Washington, Netanyahu said his meeting with the US President could 'definitely help advance" a deal with Hamas.
Trump earlier said that he wanted to discuss a 'permanent deal" with Iran during talks with Netanyahu. He recently brokered a truce between Israel and Iran, who fought a 12-day war. The US also struck three Iranian nuclear sites, leading to a gradual end of the war.
(With AFP inputs)
First Published:
July 08, 2025, 02:37 IST