No guarantees for Netanyahu during Trump meeting: Israeli media
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An Israeli columnist says Netanyahu left Washington with no guarantees after he met with Trump.
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US President Donald Trump and "Israel's" Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrive for a news conference in the East Room of the White House, on February 4, 2025, in Washington. (AP)
US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met to discuss what was later described as Trump’s "Mar-a-Gaza" vision, which Netanyahu’s supporters celebrated. However, according to Israeli Haaretz columnist Alon Pinkas, the Israeli Prime Minister in fact received little to no guarantees from the meeting.
According to the Israeli report, Pinkas told host Allison Kaplan Sommer that the uproar surrounding Trump’s desire to "own" and "take control" of Gaza, including the relocation of its two million residents, overshadowed the reality that Netanyahu failed to persuade the US president to withdraw from the ceasefire and hostage release agreement with Hamas.
Pinkas said, "There was nothing he said that affects the continuity of the ceasefire and stage two of the hostage deal," noting that "even if you take Trump at his word and you think of [the Gaza takeover] as some kind of a viable or feasible plan, the ceasefire has to continue for it to happen."
The report highlights that Netanyahu reached Washington with no leverage, facing Trump who was now "at the height of his power", leaving the meeting without any guarantees.
"When you look at the reality sitcom that took place in the White House on Tuesday, was there any mention of Saudi normalization that you recalled? There wasn't," Pinkas said. "Was there any allusion to an attack on Iran? There wasn't. Was there any reference to Trump understanding that the Israelis need to completely annihilate Hamas after 16 months of not doing so? There wasn't."
Netanyahu proposes ending Gaza war in return for exiling Hamas leaders
On Thursday, Netanyahu proposed a plan to Trump aimed at ending the war on Gaza and securing the release of high-profile Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the exile of senior Hamas leaders from the territory, Israeli news site Walla reported.
According to Walla's correspondent Barak Ravid, Netanyahu sought to reach an understanding with Trump and his administration officials on maintaining the ceasefire agreement and prisoner exchange deal. The deal hinges on introducing modifications that align with the new US administration’s policies.
Senior US officials told Walla that Netanyahu’s plan for the next phase of the agreement includes a proposal for Hamas’ senior leaders to relinquish power in Gaza and leave the territory.
Meanwhile, US Middle East envoy Steve Whitkoff is expected to meet with Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani in Miami to discuss the second phase of the agreement following his talks with Netanyahu.
An Israeli source told the Israeli news website that the second phase of the deal would proceed only if Hamas agreed to give up control of Gaza. If the group refuses, the Israeli occupation forces will not withdraw from the Philadelphi Corridor, using this point as leverage.
