Trump Claims Gaza Peace Plan in "Final Stages" Ahead of Netanyahu White House Meeting

The two leaders will address a joint news conference after the meeting.

Washington:

Ahead of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's White House visit on Monday, US President Donald Trump has stated that negotiations regarding his plan to end the Gaza war are "at their final stages." In an interview with Axios, Trump indicated he was working on an agreement with Netanyahu, Arab nations, and Hamas that could potentially lead to broader peace in the Middle East.

"Everybody has come together to get a deal, but we still have to get it done...The Arab countries were fantastic to work with on this. Hamas is coming with them. They have great respect for the Arab world...The Arab world wants peace, Israel wants peace, and Bibi (Israeli Prime Minister) wants peace," Trump explained to Axios.

According to Trump, his proposal aims not only at ending the Gaza conflict but also at reviving wider peace efforts in the region.

"If we get this done, it will be a great day for Israel and for the Middle East. It will be the first chance for real peace in the Middle East. But we have to get it done first," Trump emphasized.

All Eyes On Netanyahu

However, Netanyahu has provided little cause for optimism recently. During a defiant UN address on Friday, he pledged to "finish the job" against Hamas and promised to block a Palestinian state that several Western nations have recently recognized.

The Israeli premier also seems reluctant to halt military operations in Gaza City, which have forced hundreds of thousands of people to evacuate in recent weeks.

This will mark Netanyahu's fourth White House visit since Trump returned to office in January, as the US president continues efforts to resolve a conflict he claimed he could solve quickly. While typically a strong Netanyahu ally, Trump has recently displayed signs of frustration.

Last week, Trump cautioned Netanyahu against West Bank annexation, which some Israeli cabinet members have advocated for, and opposed Israel's recent strike against Hamas members in Qatar, a key US ally.

According to Natan Sachs, senior fellow at the Middle East Institute, the meeting's outcome will likely depend on how much pressure Trump is willing to apply on Netanyahu to accept a deal that neither Israel nor Hamas fully supports yet.

The two leaders will hold a joint news conference at 1:15 pm US Eastern time (1715 GMT) on Monday.