WADI GAZA, Gaza Strip — President Donald Trump has extended an invitation to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for a visit to the White House next week, marking Netanyahu as the first foreign leader to meet with Trump in the president’s second term. This announcement was made on Tuesday, coinciding with U.S. efforts to facilitate a ceasefire that has temporarily halted a protracted 15-month conflict in Gaza. The more complex discussions concerning the ceasefire’s enduring resolution are scheduled to commence on Monday.
In a letter dated Tuesday and shared by Netanyahu’s office, the White House expressed enthusiasm for addressing matters of peace in Israel and its neighboring countries while working together against common adversaries. The scheduled meeting on February 4 offers Netanyahu, amid domestic pressures, an opportunity to highlight his longstanding support from Trump and to justify Israel’s military actions during the ongoing war. Last year, the two leaders met for the first time in nearly four years at Mar-a-Lago, Trump’s estate in Florida.
As the largest beneficiary of U.S. military assistance, Netanyahu is expected to urge Trump to avoid delays in weapon shipments, unlike those seen during the Biden administration, which, while continuing support, had some restrictions. Additionally, Netanyahu seeks to persuade Trump to apply further pressure on Iran and to rekindle initiatives for a landmark normalization deal between Israel and Saudi Arabia, a nation that rivals Iran and holds significant influence in the Arab world.
Even before assuming office, Trump’s special Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, was dispatched to cultivate an agreement on the ongoing Gaza ceasefire with the guidance of the Biden administration. Nonetheless, Netanyahu has signaled his intent to resume military operations if Hamas fails to meet his terms in the forthcoming negotiations focused on a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and establishing lasting tranquility.
According to the United Nations, more than 375,000 Palestinians have moved back to northern Gaza following Israel’s allowance for their return starting Monday morning. This number accounts for more than a third of the one million individuals who fled during the initial chaotic days of the conflict. Many Palestinians are now witnessing the devastation of northern Gaza as they navigate their return under the delicate ceasefire, which is currently into its second week.
This week, Trump proposed that Egypt and Jordan should temporarily accept Gazans, suggesting a complete clearing of the area. This suggestion was promptly rejected by both Egypt and Jordan, as well as the Palestinians, who fear that such an arrangement would lead to permanent displacement. Contrary to this, Palestinians are determined to create makeshift shelters or sleep outdoors amidst the rubble, yearning to reclaim their land after enduring extensive periods in inadequate conditions elsewhere in Gaza. As Fayza al-Nahal articulated, “It’s still better for us to be on our land than to live on a land that’s not yours,” as she set off from the southern city of Khan Younis to return north.
Under the provisions of the ceasefire, the second release of hostages held in Gaza, coupled with the release of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli custody, is slated for Thursday, followed by another exchange on Saturday. In the first six-week phase of the ceasefire, it is expected that a total of 33 hostages taken during the Hamas-led assault on October 7, 2023, will be released, alongside nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.
This week, Israel disclosed that a list provided by Hamas confirmed suspicions regarding the deaths of eight of the 33 hostages, inducing profound sorrow among families eagerly advocating for the government to negotiate the return of all captives before it is too late. One of the early hostages freed under the ceasefire shared her experiences of captivity on social media, offering insights into her life during the ordeal. Naama Levy, aged 20, recounted spending a large portion of her initial time in isolation before being reunited with fellow soldiers and other civilian captives. “We strengthened each other until the day of our release, and also afterwards,” she remarked.
Humanitarian aid continues to surge into Gaza under the ongoing ceasefire. Israel’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel noted that around 4,200 aid trucks have crossed into the Gaza Strip following regular inspections over the past week. The current agreement aims for 600 trucks of aid to enter each day. Meanwhile, Qatar, playing a mediating role in the ceasefire negotiations, stated that despite grievances from both parties, no confirmed violations have occurred that could jeopardize the ceasefire agreement.
The ceasefire is intended to de-escalate what has been described as the most violent and destructive conflict between Israel and Hamas. The October 7 attack led to approximately 1,200 fatalities, predominantly civilians, while Israel’s retaliatory actions have resulted in the deaths of over 47,000 Palestinians, over half of whom are women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which has not disclosed the number of combatants among the deceased. Israel reports having eliminated more than 17,000 militants, though it has not provided evidence to substantiate this claim.
