U.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday he will meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House next Monday, with discussions to focus on Gaza and Iran. Trump expressed optimism about reaching a ceasefire in Gaza and pledged to be “very firm” with Netanyahu about the urgency of ending the fighting.
Speaking to reporters during a Florida visit, Trump said, “We want to get the hostages out,” and added that Netanyahu “wants a ceasefire too.” He hinted a deal between Israel and Hamas could materialize next week.
A senior Israeli official, Ron Dermer, has been in Washington for preliminary meetings ahead of the summit. A White House official confirmed Dermer’s regular visits, stating they’re part of Trump’s “path to peace for Israel and Gaza.”
Trump and Netanyahu recently coordinated on airstrikes targeting Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. Trump claimed the June B-2 bombing raids “obliterated” Tehran’s capabilities, though assessments of the damage remain contested.
Hamas has said it would release remaining hostages under a truce deal, but refuses to disarm. Israel maintains it cannot end the war unless Hamas is dismantled.
The conflict, sparked by Hamas’ October 7, 2023, assault that left 1,200 Israelis dead and 251 taken hostage, has since led to over 56,000 Palestinian deaths, according to Gaza’s health ministry. Israel’s military campaign has triggered a humanitarian crisis and international legal scrutiny, including genocide accusations at The Hague—charges Israel denies.
Trump reiterated that achieving a ceasefire and freeing the hostages are top priorities for his administration.