Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday, as Israel and Hamas continued indirect negotiations over a potential ceasefire in Gaza. The high-level visit underscored efforts to resolve the 21-month-long conflict, with both leaders expressing optimism about progress on several fronts—including controversial plans for the future of Gaza’s Palestinian population.
During a dinner with senior U.S. and Israeli officials, Netanyahu said the two countries were working with unnamed nations to offer Palestinians a “better future,” hinting at a voluntary relocation plan for Gazans.
“If people want to stay, they can stay, but if they want to leave, they should be able to leave,” Netanyahu told reporters. “We’re working very closely with the United States to identify countries willing to help realize this vision.”
Trump initially sidestepped questions about the relocation plan but later confirmed cooperation with regional governments. “We’ve had great cooperation from surrounding countries—every single one of them,” he said. “Something good will happen.”
Earlier this year, Trump proposed transforming Gaza into the “Riviera of the Middle East” by relocating Palestinians out of the enclave—an idea widely condemned by human rights groups as ethnic cleansing. Gazans themselves strongly rejected the plan, vowing not to leave their homeland.
The Netanyahu-Trump meeting took place as Israeli negotiators continued ceasefire talks with Hamas in Doha, Qatar. The U.S. is playing a central role in brokering a deal that includes a phased release of hostages, Israeli troop withdrawals, and broader discussions on ending the war.
Trump said he believed a breakthrough was possible soon, echoing Netanyahu’s hopes for a resolution. “We have scheduled Iran talks, and they want to talk. They took a big drubbing,” Trump added, referencing the recent U.S.-assisted Israeli airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.
It was the third face-to-face meeting between Trump and Netanyahu since Trump returned to office in January. Their dinner, held in the White House Blue Room, deviated from standard diplomatic protocol and came just weeks after Trump helped negotiate a ceasefire following a 12-day Israel-Iran conflict.
Trump also hinted at lifting sanctions on Iran under the right conditions. “I would love to be able to, at the right time, take those sanctions off,” he said. In an interview published Monday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian expressed optimism that U.S.-Iran tensions could be resolved through dialogue.
Netanyahu also met earlier in the day with U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. He is scheduled to visit congressional leaders at the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday.
As a show of support, Netanyahu presented Trump with a letter nominating him for the Nobel Peace Prize. Trump appeared pleased and thanked him.
Qatar Talks Continue
Negotiations in Doha entered their second day Monday. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said envoy Witkoff would join the discussions later this week to help advance a 60-day ceasefire plan he helped craft.
However, major obstacles remain. Palestinian officials say Israel’s refusal to guarantee the safe and unrestricted entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza is the main sticking point. Israel says it is facilitating aid deliveries while preventing supplies from falling into the hands of militant groups.
The current U.S.-backed proposal includes:
A phased release of remaining hostages held by Hamas
Gradual withdrawal of Israeli troops from parts of Gaza
Launch of negotiations for a permanent end to the warHamas insists on a full ceasefire and an end to the war before releasing hostages. Israel, by contrast, demands all hostages be freed and Hamas dismantled before agreeing to a lasting truce.
Trump last week said he would press Netanyahu for swift action on a Gaza deal. Netanyahu, whose political coalition includes hardliners opposed to any ceasefire, faces growing domestic pressure as Israelis grow weary of the prolonged conflict.
Protests Outside White House
As the two leaders met, hundreds of demonstrators rallied outside the White House. Protesters waved Palestinian flags and banners reading “Stop Arming Israel” and “Say No to Genocide.” Many called for Netanyahu’s arrest, citing an International Criminal Court warrant over alleged war crimes in Gaza.
Humanitarian Crisis Worsens
The war in Gaza began in October 2023, when Hamas launched a surprise attack on southern Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. Around 50 hostages remain, with about 20 believed to be alive.
In response, Israel launched a devastating military campaign in Gaza that has killed more than 57,000 people, according to Gaza’s health ministry. Most of the population has been displaced, and nearly half a million are at risk of famine, according to UN estimates.
Displaced Gazans are watching the negotiations closely. “I ask God almighty that the negotiating delegation or the mediators pressure with all their strength to solve this issue, because it has totally become unbearable,” said Abu Suleiman Qadoum, a resident of Gaza City.
Israeli leaders hope a successful resolution of the Gaza conflict—and the weakening of Iranian influence—could lay the groundwork for normalization with additional Arab states, including Lebanon, Syria, and Saudi Arabia.
The path forward, however, remains fraught with uncertainty.
