TEL AVIV, Israel — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Sunday that he plans to discuss strategies for achieving “victory over Hamas,” countering Iranian influence, and enhancing diplomatic ties with Arab nations during his upcoming meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump.
Scheduled for Tuesday at the White House, this meeting marks Trump’s first engagement with a foreign leader since he resumed office. This meeting occurs at a time when U.S. and Arab mediators are tasked with navigating the complexities of reaching a new phase in negotiations aimed at concluding the conflict in the Gaza Strip and facilitating the release of hostages held by militants.
Hamas has reestablished control over Gaza since a ceasefire was established last month, indicating it will not free hostages during the second phase without the conclusion of hostilities and a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces. Netanyahu faces intense pressure from far-right members of his coalition to reactivate military action once the current phase concludes early in March, affirming Israel’s commitment to defeating Hamas and securing the return of all hostages taken during the militants’ October 7 assault that sparked the conflict.
The specifics of Trump’s position remain uncertain. Historically, he has been a robust supporter of Israel but has also expressed intentions to minimize U.S. military involvement in the Middle East. He has taken credit for aiding in the negotiation of the ceasefire, which has curtailed fighting and resulted in the release of 18 hostages who had been detained for over 15 months, alongside the release of hundreds of Palestinians held in Israeli prisons.
In a recent incident, an Israeli airstrike in central Gaza injured five individuals, including a critically wounded child, as noted by Al-Awda Hospital. The Israeli military justified the attack by stating that the vehicle targeted was circumventing a checkpoint while moving north, which was in violation of the ceasefire terms, although they asserted a continued commitment to the ceasefire.
Netanyahu expressed his support for Trump’s philosophy of achieving “peace through strength” in a statement released prior to his departure. He highlighted that their discussions would center on critical issues like “victory over Hamas,” the liberation of all Israeli hostages, and addressing the threat posed by Iran and its affiliated groups in the region.
The conflict, which began following a Hamas-led incursion into southern Israel on October 7, 2023, resulted in approximately 1,200 fatalities, predominantly among civilians, and the capture of about 250 individuals. During a week-long ceasefire in November 2023, over 100 hostages were released, with eight confirmed alive and several bodies recovered by Israeli forces.
According to local health authorities, Israeli military actions have claimed the lives of over 47,000 Palestinians, with women and children making up more than half of the casualties. The warfare has brought devastation to multiple urban areas and displaced nearly 90% of Gaza’s population, which totals around 2.3 million.
As part of the initial stage of the ceasefire, Hamas is expected to release a total of 33 hostages, with eight reportedly deceased, in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. Following a retreat by Israeli forces from several areas, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have begun returning to their severely damaged homes in northern Gaza.
On Monday, negotiations concerning the next phase—including a full cessation of hostilities and the return of approximately 60 remaining hostages—are set to commence. If negotiations fail, the conflict could reignite as early as March.
Aims for a larger agreement
Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, previously engaged in lengthy ceasefire negotiations and recently met with Netanyahu to prepare for these upcoming discussions in Washington. Trump, who was instrumental in securing normalization agreements between Israel and four Arab nations during his first term, is perceived to be pursuing a broader and potentially groundbreaking agreement, specifically aimed at establishing diplomatic ties between Israel and Saudi Arabia.
However, Saudi Arabia has reiterated that it would only consider such an arrangement contingent on the conclusion of the war and a viable plan for a Palestinian state encompassing Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem. Netanyahu’s administration opposes the establishment of a Palestinian state, and far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has threatened to withdraw from the coalition if military operations are not resumed in March, suggesting this could lead to early elections that could result in Netanyahu’s removal.
In the West Bank, violence continues to escalate. As the ceasefire in Gaza holds, Israeli military operations have intensified, particularly in the volatile city of Jenin, with the military expanding its focus to the town of Tamun. The Palestinian Health Ministry reported the killing of a 73-year-old man by Israeli forces in Jenin and noted the deaths of five individuals, including a teenager, in overnight airstrikes.
The military confirmed the targeting of two militants—one of whom had been released during the November ceasefire—accusing them of planning an imminent attack. These operations follow an uptick in violence since the onset of the Gaza conflict, including a rise in settler attacks against Palestinians and Palestinian retaliatory actions against Israelis.
