Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will be flying to Washington next week to meet President Donald Trump for the third time since Trump returned to office in January. A White House official confirmed the visit late yesterday, reported the Times of Israel, while Netanyahu confirmed it in opening remarks to a cabinet meeting today. An unnamed U.S. official told the Times of Israel that top issues on the agenda would be Gaza and Iran, stressing Trump’s desire to secure an end to the war in Gaza and a release of the remaining hostages. Syria will also be discussed, the U.S. official added.
An official in Netanyahu’s office said earlier that Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer was in the U.S. to “try to press the Americans to press the Qataris to press Hamas” for more concessions amid ongoing discussions for a ceasefire and hostage-release deal. The official noted: “Qatar is the key. We are hoping that there will be a breakthrough very soon. It depends on Hamas.” Meantime, Israel’s military was continuing to press its offensive in Gaza. “We are continuing to progress and deepen the ground maneuver, to pressure Hamas until it agrees to a deal or until we defeat it,” the official said.
