Trump and Netanyahu to Strategize on Gaza Cease-Fire at Washington Dinner

President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu are set to meet to address pressing issues surrounding Gaza and broader Middle Eastern relations.

President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are scheduled to hold a crucial dinner meeting on Monday night, where they will discuss vital matters concerning the Middle East, including the future of Gaza and the potential normalization of relations between Israel and Gulf states. Sources close to the plan revealed the urgency surrounding talks of an Israel-Hamas cease-fire and the possibility of releasing hostages, currently under negotiation in Doha.

The dinner occurs amid heightened tensions and U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, which are part of a broader Israeli strategy to tackle regional instability. The leaders' meeting is expected to cover these strikes, as well as overall efforts to reduce violence in the area.

Netanyahu arrived in Washington early Monday, likely to meet with key figures including Steve Witkoff, Trump’s special envoy for the Middle East, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio before dining with the President. This visit marks Netanyahu's third trip to the White House since Trump began his second term in January, highlighting the complex yet necessary working relationship between the two leaders, who have a history of mutual distrust.

Furthermore, for any hostage release agreements to be realized, negotiations will need to involve Hamas, which recently appointed a new leader following the assassination of several senior officials by Israel. As both leaders gather to strategize, the outcome of this meeting could significantly influence not just Gaza, but the larger geopolitical landscape of the Middle East.