Frustrated Trump wants Netanyahu to 'wrap up' war on Gaza: Axios
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Amid rising civilian casualties in Gaza, Trump urges "Israel" to end its war, advance humanitarian aid, and pursue reconstruction, highlighting deepening policy divides with Netanyahu.
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President Donald Trump greets Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on April 7, 2025, in Washington (AP)
US President Donald Trump has grown increasingly frustrated with the ongoing war On Gaza, particularly disturbed by images of suffering Palestinian children, and has instructed aides to urge Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to bring the aggression to a close, according to two White House officials speaking to Axios.
While both US and Israeli officials insist Trump is not abandoning "Israel" or applying intense pressure, they acknowledge growing policy rifts.
Trump is pushing for an end to the war, the release of Israeli captives, expanded humanitarian aid, and the beginning of Gaza’s reconstruction—priorities that contrast with Netanyahu’s continued military escalation.
Since Trump’s recent visit to the region, the US has been actively pressuring both "Israel" and Hamas to accept a new ceasefire captive release proposal put forward by White House envoy Steve Witkoff.
Witkoff has been engaging in direct talks with Netanyahu and his senior advisor, Ron Dermer, as well as Hamas leadership through a backchannel facilitated by Palestinian-American businessman Bishara Bahbah.
The deadlock in talks, coupled with the escalating situation on the ground, led Vice President JD Vance to cancel his planned visit to "Israel" this week, signaling the administration's dissatisfaction with the current approach in Gaza.
Trump frustrated by Gaza crisis
An Israeli official revealed to Axios that Netanyahu doesn’t currently feel significant pressure from Trump.
Other world leaders are also stepping up their pressure; the UK, France, and Canada issued a joint statement on Monday, threatening to take action against "Israel" in response to the ongoing war on Gaza, prompting Netanyahu to accuse them of "offering a huge prize for the genocidal attack on Israel on October 7 while inviting more such atrocities."
A White House official revealed that Trump is frustrated by images of suffering children in Gaza and has urged "Israel" to reopen the border to allow humanitarian aid.
While he views his Middle East trip as a success, Trump believes the ongoing war on Gaza is hindering his broader regional plans, seeing it as the last major war standing in the way of peace and prosperity. Another official described the war as a major distraction, expressing, "There is a lot of frustration by this crisis getting dragged on."
No chance of Trump abandoning 'Israel'
The insider stated that Trump's decision to act unilaterally to obtain the release of American-Israeli captive Edan Alexander, rather than waiting for "Israel" to agree to a larger deal, stemmed from this impatience.
"The President may be saying, 'Hey, listen, let's try to end the war,' and he may speak strongly..." But his support is ironclad," Trump's hostage response envoy, Adan Boehler, told Fox News on Monday.
A US official has dismissed a report by The Washington Post alleging that the Trump administration warned it would abandon "Israel" if it continued its war on Gaza, calling the claim “preposterous.”
According to The Washington Post report, an unnamed source “familiar with the discussions” claimed that US officials had sent a warning to the Israeli leadership, stating, “Trump’s people are letting Israel know, ‘We will abandon you if you do not end this war.’”
The source suggested that while Netanyahu has the means to end the war, he lacks the political will to do so.
The Washington Post further quoted the source as saying, “Politically, as in the past, Netanyahu has a way to do that, with a huge majority in the Knesset and in Israel.”
