President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House this Monday for their second official meeting since Trump assumed office once again.
The visit was confirmed by the White House and Netanyahu’s office this past Saturday and coincides with Israel’s military campaign to enforce a new security corridor in Gaza aimed at the Hamas militant group. Israel’s defense minister has indicated plans to occupy significant regions within Gaza to incorporate them into what they call security zones.
Last month, Israel abruptly broke a ceasefire with a surprise bombardment on Gaza after attempting to convince Hamas to agree to revised ceasefire terms, a move supported by Trump’s administration. This escalation has resulted in the deaths of numerous Palestinians.
Israel has declared an intent to intensify the conflict until Hamas repatriates the remaining hostages from the October 7, 2023, attack, fully disarms, and vacates Gaza. Consequently, Israel has halted the provision of food, fuel, and humanitarian aid to the region.
Netanyahu’s office shared via a social media statement that upcoming discussions with Trump will encompass a range of topics including tariffs, Israel’s efforts to reclaim hostages, Israel-Turkey relations, the Iranian threat, and countering the International Criminal Court. The country is presently dealing with a 17% tariff.
Netanyahu is under scrutiny from the court on allegations of crimes against humanity in Gaza; however, the U.S. is not a part of this international body.
In February, Netanyahu became the first foreign leader to be invited to the White House during Trump’s second term. Their previous discussions revolved around Israel’s conflict with Hamas as attempts to establish a ceasefire were underway. Following their talks, Trump floated a surprising proposal suggesting the permanent resettlement of displaced Palestinians from Gaza to outside areas and a U.S. initiative to transform the locality into a “Riviera of the Middle East.” This suggestion met with resistance from Palestinians and critical reactions from Arab nations and rights organizations.
The February meeting also provided Netanyahu a platform to highlight the administration’s support for Israel, defend the military campaign, and divert attention from domestic political challenges. These challenges have since intensified with Israelis protesting over the delay in securing a deal to bring home remaining hostages from Gaza and Netanyahu’s decision to dismiss the head of the domestic security agency as well as the attorney general. He is also under pressure to acknowledge his role in the failure to avert the October 7 attacks.
In an appeal on Saturday, family members of those held hostage in Gaza urged Trump to “use all your power to pressure Netanyahu to end this war and bring our hostages back now.”
Ifat Calderon, the aunt of one hostage, stated from Tel Aviv that “Netanyahu is lying when he says that military pressure will bring back the abductees. The only way to quickly return all the abductees is to end the war and return them all in one fell swoop.”
Hamas, meanwhile, has conditioned the release of the remaining 59 hostages—of which 24 are believed to be alive—on the liberation of more Palestinian prisoners, the establishment of a lasting ceasefire, and an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
The attack on southern Israel on October 7 claimed roughly 1,200 lives, primarily civilians. Approximately 251 hostages were taken during the assault, with most released under ceasefire agreements or other arrangements.
In Gaza, the ongoing Israeli offensive has led to more than 50,000 Palestinian deaths, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not specify the civilian or combatant status of the deceased. Israel, on its part, claims to have killed around 20,000 militants but has not provided evidence for these figures.
Meanwhile, Israeli police have detained two of Netanyahu’s close associates on charges of accepting money from Qatar to enhance its image within Israel. Qatar plays a mediating role in talks between Hamas and Israel but denies sponsoring the militant faction. Netanyahu has dismissed these allegations as unfounded.
Amidst the tumult, the prime minister also faces an ongoing corruption trial and frequently challenges a purported “deep state” he claims is targeting him.
Trump has announced that his first overseas trip in his second term will likely include visits to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and potentially the United Arab Emirates, along with other locations. The visit, which could occur as early as May, aims to reward Saudi Arabia for its investments in the U.S., with all three Gulf states expected to make job-related commitments in the U.S. during his trip.