Less than 24 hours after dining together at the White House, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with U.S. President Donald Trump for the second time in less than 24 hours late Tuesday at the White House, marking their fourth meeting in six months. The talks once again centered on Gaza.
Speaking during a cabinet meeting, Trump said that he would discuss with Netanyahu the ongoing situation in Gaza and bring an end to hostilities.
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US President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
(Photo: GPO)
The meeting took place in the Oval Office and was not publicly documented beforehand. A source familiar with the matter said a Qatari delegation had also arrived in Washington for meetings with senior administration officials for ceasefire talks. The delegation landed before the second Netanyahu-Trump meeting, while Israeli and Hamas negotiating teams continued discussions in Doha, Qatar, aimed at reaching a possible agreement.
Netanyahu left the White House after about an hour and a half without making a joint statement with Trump. Later, the Prime Minister’s Office said Vice President JD Vance also attended the meeting.
Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, said the U.S. is aiming to finalize a 60-day ceasefire agreement by the end of the week. The deal would see the release of 10 living hostages in two stages—eight on the first day and two more on day 50—and the return of the bodies of 18 hostages in three phases. It also includes the release of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails and an increase in humanitarian aid to Gaza. Trump is expected to serve as a guarantor for future negotiations aimed at ending the war.
The UK-based Sky News reported, citing two sources familiar with the ceasefire talks, that Trump intends to apply “heavy” pressure on Netanyahu to end the war in Gaza. A Middle Eastern diplomatic source also confirmed to Sky News that strong pressure would be applied.
Later reports indicated that Bashar al-Bahbah, a Palestinian-American businessman mediating between the U.S. and Hamas, conveyed a message from Trump to Hamas saying that fighting would not resume after the 60-day ceasefire.
A member of the Israeli delegation in Washington said a deal by the end of the week was possible, though he stressed that the talks remain “sensitive.” On Tuesday evening, after a day of widespread Arab media reports and minimal comment from Israeli officials about the Doha negotiations, Witkoff announced that the number of disputed issues had dropped from four to one. He also expressed hope that an agreement could be reached by week’s end.
According to a member of the Israeli delegation, the main point of contention in the ceasefire talks concerns the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip. “At the end of the day, we’re dealing with a terrorist organization, and there’s no way to know how it will behave,” the official said.
The Saudi-based Al Hadath network reported that the core dispute is Israel’s intention to retain control over the Morag Corridor and the area south of it. The corridor, located south of Khan Younis, encircles the devastated city of Rafah near the Egyptian border. Sky News reported that this issue could also affect the operations of the U.S.-based relief group Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which would be unable to function in areas of Gaza not under Israeli military control. It is believed that other international aid organizations may step in to fill the void.
Just south of the Morag Corridor, on the ruins of Rafah, Israel announced Monday its intention to establish a “humanitarian city”—a large civilian complex meant to house Gaza’s population while separating it from Hamas. In light of this plan, Israel stated that it aims to keep the Morag Corridor under IDF control in any scenario.
The Israeli delegation had prepared for a potential follow-up summit after a senior official hinted to Israeli reporters that another meeting with Trump could be necessary. U.S. sources emphasized that the second meeting did not necessarily reflect progress in negotiations.
Earlier in the day, Netanyahu met with House Speaker Mike Johnson at the Capitol for about 30 minutes. When asked if he would meet again with Trump that evening, Netanyahu replied, “Most likely.”
After the meeting, Netanyahu told reporters that he and Trump believe in a “doctrine called peace through strength,” with the U.S. president’s support bringing a “remarkable change in the Middle East.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses the media after meeting with US House Speaker Mike Johnson
(Video: Reuters)
"The remarkable B-2 pilots showed remarkable perseverance, persistence and power," he told reporters. "The soldiers of Israel fought like lions, our pilots struck like lightning and our common alliance roared like thunder, and this is having a great change in our region. There are opportunities for peace that we intend to realize; we're working together on this.”
He reiterated Israel’s commitment to freeing the hostages and dismantling Hamas so that Gaza no longer poses a threat to Israeli communities.
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Regarding the ceasefire talks, Netanyahu said, “We’re working diligently; it takes two sides. We won’t give up—we have a goal and intend to achieve it. We’ve agreed to the mediators’ proposal. It aligns with Witkoff’s original plan, and I hope we can cross the line toward a deal. The less I talk about it publicly, the better.”
He said Israel was prepared to end the war under conditions that would prevent Hamas from operating again and ensure Gaza would no longer pose a threat to Israel. “There is a plan,” he said.
Asked about the possibility of civilian control in Gaza, Netanyahu responded, “Our intention is that Hamas will no longer rule there. We will do what is necessary to make that happen. There will be no more infiltrations from Gaza, no more rapes, no more murders, no more beheadings. There will be no more Hamas. We will defeat them so they can no longer fight us—and they will lay down their arms.”