Netanyahu to return to White House on July 7

 

Netanyahu to return to White House on July 7

 Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, will meet with American officials in Washington early next week. President Donald Trump, a White House official confirmed to The Times of Israel on Monday night.  The trip is part of Washington's efforts to end the war in Gaza and free the nearly two-year-old hostages. The July 7 visit will be Netanyahu's third trip to Washington since Trump took office in January 2025.  It comes at a time when Israel and Iran have agreed to a US-brokered ceasefire after a 12-day air war.

 However, there has been no official announcement from the Prime Minister's Office.

 Another US official said that the issue of Gaza and Iran will be discussed in the Netanyahu-Trump meeting.  Trump said he was committed to ending the war in Gaza and freeing the remaining hostages.  The issue of Syria will also be discussed.

 Ron Dermer, Israel's minister of strategic affairs, is currently in Washington for a meeting with US officials. The United States is putting pressure on him to end the 20-month war in Gaza. Netanyahu held a key cabinet meeting on Monday night to discuss the Gaza ceasefire.  A source said no agreement had been reached.

 Trump recently expressed the hope that an agreement on a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages would be reached within a week. Negotiations between Israel and Hamas are ongoing, but the two sides remain far apart.  While Hamas has called for a final ceasefire, Israel is in favour of a limited truce so that it can resume operations if necessary.

 But Netanyahu and the top military brass of Israel have recently indicated that they are closer than ever to ending the war. An official in Netanyahu's office said Dermer had been sent to press the United States to pressure Qatar to negotiate a Gaza ceasefire and the release of hostages.  "Qatar is the key.  We hope to make progress soon.  But it depends on Hamas.  '

 According to White House press secretary Carolyn Leavitt, Trump places a high priority on resolving the conflict in Gaza. "" "It's really shocking to see the images coming out of Israel and Gaza."  The president wants to end it.  He wants to save lives.  '

 Israel has said its operations in Gaza will continue until a ceasefire is reached.  "We have to free the hostages first," Netanyahu said.  Then we have to solve the Gaza problem and defeat Hamas.  But I believe we can achieve both.  '

 However, his coalition partners are calling for the war to continue. The ceasefire agreement with Hamas poses no greater threat to Israel, according to Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich on Monday. "" "I appeal to the Prime Minister that there should be no more talks with the killers."  The intense and rapid war must continue to destroy the enemy in Gaza and eliminate the long-term threat to Israel.  '

 Hamas is holding 50 hostages, 49 of whom were kidnapped on October 7, 2023.  Israel says at least 28 people are dead, 20 are alive and two are in critical condition.  Hamas also holds the body of an Israeli soldier killed in Gaza in 2014.

 According to the Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry, more than 56,000 people have been killed since the start of the war and many more are missing.