Journalism of Courage
US President Donald Trump on Monday met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House as the two leaders agreed on ending the war in Gaza.
As he welcomed the Israeli PM, Trump was asked by reporters if he is confident about the chances for peace in Gaza and of a deal to end the war in Gaza.
“I am — I’m very confident,” Trump responded.
Earlier, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said they are “very close” to all sides agreeing to a comprehensive plan to end the war in Gaza.
“As you know, the president has been working tirelessly on this effort to bring this war in Gaza and to bring this conflict in the Middle East to an end. He wants to see all of the hostages released,” Leavitt told reporters before the two leaders met.
She, however, suggested that both sides “will come out somewhat unhappy.”
“To reach a good deal, a reasonable deal for both sides, both sides have to give up a little bit and might leave the table a little bit unhappy. But that’s ultimately how we’re going to end this conflict,” Leavitt told Fox&Friends.
The US had been pushing Israel to agree on Trump’s 21-point peace plan, which calls for all hostages held by Hamas to be released within 48 hours of an agreement and sets out a roadmap for Gaza once the war ends.
One of the most significant points in the Trump peace plan is the creation of a pathway to a future Palestinian state. This marks a departure from the Trump administration’s long-held position of not recognising the two-state solution.
According to the proposal, Hamas will be disarmed and Gaza will be redeveloped under a reformed Palestinian Authority. This also contradicts the Trump administration’s previously held position that the US would take over and develop Gaza after permanently relocating its entire population.
Despite putting a brave face at the UNGA last week, Netanyahu is under unprecedented international pressure to end the ongoing war in Gaza that has killed over 65,000 people in nearly two years.
Netanyahu’s announcement to annex parts of the occupied West Bank has also met with stiff resistance from Arab and European countries. Even Trump has publicly opposed the West Bank annexation plan.
But walking back on West Bank annexation plan could cost Netanyahu domestically as some of his key allies, ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich are among the biggest proponents of it.
