President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are set to meet Tuesday as Netanyahu faces conflicting demands—pressure from his right-wing coalition to end the temporary truce against Hamas militants in Gaza, and calls from war-weary Israelis urging a resolution to the 15-month conflict and the return of remaining hostages.
Trump, while taking credit for brokering the hostage and ceasefire deal that began just before he returned to office last month, remains cautious about its future.
“I have no guarantees that the peace is going to hold,” Trump told reporters on Monday.
The meeting is expected to cover Israel’s long-sought normalization deal with Saudi Arabia and concerns over Iran’s nuclear program. However, the top priority will be negotiating the second phase of the hostage deal between Israel and Hamas.
Netanyahu’s visit to Washington—his first foreign trip since the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants in November—comes at a politically turbulent time.
He is currently embroiled in a corruption trial, where he is accused of exchanging favors with media moguls and wealthy associates. Netanyahu has dismissed the allegations, calling them a “witch hunt.”
With his public support declining, a high-profile meeting with Trump—who remains popular in Israel—could serve as a political boost, shifting focus away from his legal troubles.
The ICC arrest warrants targeted Netanyahu, his former defense minister, and Hamas’ slain military chief, alleging crimes against humanity in the Gaza war. However, the U.S. does not recognize the ICC’s authority over its citizens or territory, making Netanyahu’s Washington visit legally unimpeded.
As the Trump-Netanyahu talks unfold, the world will be watching for any new developments on the Gaza conflict, regional diplomacy, and Israel’s domestic political landscape.