President Trump invites Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to the White House for talks on peace and security in the Middle East, coinciding with ongoing negotiations to extend the ceasefire in Gaza.
President Donald Trump has invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the White House next week for a meeting, marking Netanyahu's first visit as a foreign leader in Trump's second term. The announcement comes as the United States urges both Israel and Hamas to maintain the ceasefire that has halted a devastating 15-month war in Gaza. Negotiations for the second phase of the ceasefire, which aims to achieve a lasting peace, are set to begin next Monday.
The White House letter inviting Netanyahu, shared by his office on Tuesday, expressed a desire to discuss bringing peace to Israel and its neighbors, as well as addressing shared adversaries. The meeting on February 4th presents an opportunity for Netanyahu, facing domestic pressure, to underscore the longstanding support he has received from Trump and defend Israel's actions during the war. This meeting follows a previous encounter between the two leaders in 2023 at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.Israel is the largest recipient of US military aid, and Netanyahu is expected to advocate for the continuation of full military support, including possible weapons deliveries that may have been delayed by the Biden administration. Netanyahu also aims to enlist Trump's support in pressuring Iran and reviving efforts to secure a historic normalization agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia, a key player in the Middle East. Even before assuming office this month, Trump had dispatched his special Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, to the region to exert pressure alongside the Biden administration in achieving the current Gaza ceasefire. However, Netanyahu has declared his intention to resume hostilities if Hamas fails to meet his demands during negotiations for the second phase of the ceasefire, which seeks a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and a 'sustainable calm'.The ceasefire has already facilitated the return of over 375,000 Palestinians to northern Gaza, representing more than a third of the million individuals displaced at the war's outset. Many of these returning Palestinians are witnessing the devastation wrought on northern Gaza for the first time as they navigate a fragile peace that enters its second week. While Trump suggested earlier this week that Egypt and Jordan temporarily accommodate Palestinians from Gaza to facilitate the removal of debris and rebuilding, this proposal was swiftly rejected by Egypt, Jordan, and the Palestinians, who feared Israel's reluctance to allow a permanent return. Instead, Palestinians are determined to rebuild their lives amidst the ruins, establishing makeshift shelters or sleeping outdoors amidst the rubble of their shattered homes.After months spent in overcrowded tent camps or makeshift facilities in southern Gaza, they are finally returning to their homes. The ceasefire stipulates the release of hostages held in Gaza and Palestinian prisoners in Israeli custody in two stages, starting on Thursday. By Saturday, a total of 33 hostages captured during the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, which ignited the war, along with nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, are expected to be released. Israel revealed this week that a list provided by Hamas confirmed the deaths of eight of the 33 hostages slated for release, bringing renewed anguish to Israeli families who have relentlessly pressed the government to secure the return of all their loved ones before time runs out.
Donald Trump Benjamin Netanyahu Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Gaza Ceasefire Middle East Peace
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