Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin called for a surge of humanitarian aid into Gaza while advocating for a ceasefire and hostage release during his White House visit on Wednesday, Reuters reported.
Speaking alongside Martin before their meeting, President Donald Trump stated that "no one is expelling anyone" from Palestinian territory. The comments came as the two leaders prepared for talks in Washington.
Negotiations between Israel and Hamas have resumed in Doha through mediators, as Israel and the US push to extend the first phase of the deal in exchange for a ceasefire lasting until after Passover. In February, Israel has decided to completely stop the transfer of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip following the completion of the first stage of the hostage deal, and "due to Hamas' refusal to accept the Witkoff framework for continued talks, which Israel agreed to," the Prime Minister's Office said in an official statement.
"Israel will not agree to a ceasefire without the release of our hostages," the statement read. "If Hamas continues to refuse, there will be further consequences."
The White House rejected an Arab proposal following the Arab League summit in Cairo, where leaders endorsed an Egyptian initiative to rebuild Gaza at a cost of $53 billion aimed at halting Palestinian emigration from the territory. National Security Council spokesperson Brian Hughes stated that the plan "does not address the reality that Gaza is uninhabitable and that its residents cannot live humanely in a territory covered in rubble and unexploded ordnance," adding, "President Trump stands by his vision to rebuild Gaza free from Hamas."
