PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. — President Donald Trump plans to fulfill with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Monday in what can be their second White Home sit-down since Trump’s return to workplace.
The go to, confirmed by a White Home official and Netanyahu’s workplace Saturday, comes as Israel deploys troops in a brand new safety hall throughout Gaza to stress the Hamas militant group. Netanyahu’s protection minister has mentioned Israel will seize giant areas of the territory and add them to its so-called safety zones.
Final month, Israel shattered the ceasefire with a shock bombardment in Gaza after making an attempt to stress Hamas to just accept proposed new phrases for the ceasefire, a transfer supported by the White Home. A whole lot of Palestinians have since been killed.
Israel has pledged to escalate the battle in Gaza till Hamas returns the remaining hostages seized within the Oct. 7, 2023, assault that sparked the battle, disarms and leaves the territory. Israel additionally has halted all provides of meals, gasoline and humanitarian help into Gaza.
In a press release on social media, Netanyahu’s workplace mentioned he and Trump would focus on “the tariff issue, the efforts to return our hostages, Israel-Turkey relations, the Iranian threat and the battle against the International Criminal Court.” Israel faces a 17 p.c tariff.
Netanyahu is needed by the court docket for alleged crimes in opposition to humanity in Gaza. The U.S. is just not a member of the court docket.
In February, Netanyahu grew to become the primary international chief invited to the White Home throughout Trump’s second time period. Their assembly centered on Israel’s battle with Hamas and the subsequent steps as a ceasefire deal took maintain.
That February assembly gave Netanyahu an opportunity to remind the world of the Trump administration’s help for Israel, defend the conduct of the battle and distract from political pressures again house.
These pressures have solely grown as Israelis protest each the dearth of a deal to convey remaining hostages house from Gaza and Netanyahu’s strikes to fireplace the pinnacle of the nation’s home safety company and its lawyer common. He additionally faces calls to just accept duty for his function in failing to forestall the Oct. 7 assault.
