The President of the United States, Donald Trump, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu were scheduled to meet on Tuesday. Netanyahu faced competing pressures from his conservative coalition to end a temporary ceasefire against Hamas militants in Gaza and from Israelis weary of the war. The latter are seeking the return of hostages and an end to the conflict after 15 months.
Trump has been reserved about the long-term prospects of the ceasefire, despite claiming credit for pressuring Hamas and Israel to reach a ceasefire agreement. "I don’t have guarantees that peace will hold," Trump told reporters on Monday.
The leaders' talks are expected to address a normalization agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia, as well as concerns about Iran's nuclear program. However, details of the second phase of the hostage agreement will top the day's agenda.
Netanyahu's arrival in Washington for the first visit by a foreign leader during Trump’s second term comes at a time when the Prime Minister is losing popular support. Netanyahu maintains that Israel is committed to victory over Hamas and the return of all hostages captured in an attack that triggered the war in 2023.
Trump and Netanyahu hope to achieve a lasting ceasefire and address Netanyahu's political issues and the broader objectives of the government. A resolution on the next phase of the ceasefire is expected when Netanyahu returns to Israel.
Meanwhile, far-right members of Netanyahu's governing coalition are pushing to resume fighting in Gaza against Hamas. The second phase of the agreement will include the complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from the area.
On the other hand, there are tensions surrounding Trump’s initiative to relocate displaced Palestinians outside of Gaza, which is not supported by some key countries in the region. Netanyahu sees this situation as an opportunity to address Iran's nuclear program. Political and international challenges complicate negotiations and stability in the region.
