In an unprecedented move, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to meet again Tuesday night with US President Donald Trump, just one day after their previous meeting. According to the Prime Minister's Office, the personal meeting is set for 4:30 p.m. Washington time at the White House.
The expected meeting follows an intense day of diplomacy that included meetings with Vice President JD Vance, the Speaker of the House and Senate leaders, against the backdrop of negotiations with the Hamas terrorist organization and with Syria.
Speaking ahead of the meeting with Trump, Netanyahu said: "We are working on a ceasefire, but it takes two to tango. We have accepted Witkoff's proposal, and we believe it's a good offer." He added, "In the 77 years of Israel's existence, there has never been coordination and cooperation like we now have with the American administration. The people of Israel and the Jewish people as a whole deeply appreciate President Trump."
Video: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with US Vice President JD Vance at Blair House /// Itay Beit-On / GPO
Netanyahu clarified, "We have not yet finished the war. We are discussing a ceasefire, but we are also prepared to resume fighting. The US and Israel see eye to eye on this. We are fighting a cruel and cynical enemy, and we must not disclose our plans to them. Many doubted our ability to achieve our goals, but we did."
Trump, for his part, said before the meeting, "I'm meeting Netanyahu tonight and we'll talk about Gaza. I think what they did to him with the trial was unfair. He's a wartime prime minister, an extraordinary result, and he wasn't treated well." Trump added, "He came to me and we'll be talking almost exclusively about Gaza. It's a tragedy. He wants to resolve it, and so do I—and so does the other side."
US envoy to the negotiations, Steve Witkoff, voiced optimism: "We're in close contact right now. We've resolved three issues and only one remains. We hope a resolution will bring us a 60-day ceasefire and the release of 10 living hostages. We believe this could lead to lasting peace in Gaza."
Witkoff added that they aim to reach an agreement by the end of the week and are in communication with the hostages' families. "We hope this will lead to a permanent ceasefire in Gaza," he said.
