Trump was anticipated to urge Netanyahu to agree to a ceasefire in the ongoing Israeli-Hamas conflict in Gaza, which has resulted in nearly 60,000 deaths, the majority of them Palestinian.
On Monday, Israeli and Hamas negotiators held indirect talks in Qatar for the first time in six weeks, with both sides expressing optimism about the prospects for a ceasefire. However, certain crucial negotiating points remain, including Israeli guarantees that the war would not continue and Netanyahu's demand for Hamas to be permanently removed from Gaza.
Before a dinner in the Blue Room at the White House, Trump directed the question of forcibly removing Palestinians from Gaza to Netanyahu, who responded with a mention of “free choice”. Netanyahu also presented Trump with a letter praising his efforts to end conflicts in the Middle East and nominating him for the Nobel peace prize.
Trump said he believed that Palestinians should be able to leave if they choose to do so, and that a number of countries are looking to nominate him for the Nobel peace prize. He also mentioned sending more weapons to Ukraine to help them defend themselves against Russia’s war.
While both sides have spoken positively about the prospects for a ceasefire, certain negotiating points remain, including Israeli concerns over security guarantees. Netanyahu insisted that Palestinians should have the powers to govern themselves, but not the powers to threaten Israel’s security.
Most Israeli officials and military sources believe that a deal can be achieved, while Palestinian officials are more subdued, stating that initial talks on Sunday were inconclusive. Netanyahu is expected to meet with senior US officials, including vice-president JD Vance and house speaker Mike Johnson, during his stay in Washington.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jul/08/trump-nominated-nobel-peace-prize-netanyahu
