After his second meeting with US President Donald Trump in as many days, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Wednesday said the talks were centred around securing the release of hostages held in Gaza. Netanyahu maintained he was determined to "eliminate" Hamas' military and governmental capabilities. He is on his third visit to the US since Trump returned to power in Washington. The two leaders also discussed the implications of the joint US-Israel operation against Tehran, which he referred to as "the great victory we achieved over Iran". "We focused on the efforts to free our hostages. We are not relenting on this for a moment, and this is made possible due to the military pressure exerted by our heroic soldiers. Regrettably, this effort comes at painful costs, with the loss of our finest sons," the Israeli prime minister said. "But we are determined to achieve all our goals: the release of all our hostages—both the living and the fallen, the elimination of Hamas's military and governing capabilities, and thereby ensuring that Gaza will no longer pose a threat to Israel. We also discussed the implications and possibilities of the great victory we achieved over Iran," he added. קיימתי היום פגישה נוספת עם הנשיא טראמפ בבית הלבן, ואחר כך פגישה קצרה עם סגן הנשיא ואנס. אנחנו התמקדנו במאמצים לשחרור חטופינו. אנחנו לא מרפים מזה לרגע, וזה מתאפשר בגלל הלחץ הצבאי שמפעילים חיילינו הגיבורים. לצערי, המאמץ הזה גובה מאיתנו מחירים כואבים, של נפילת טובי בנינו. אבל… pic.twitter.com/kYOHOUBEXU — Benjamin Netanyahu - בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) July 9, 2025 Netanyahu said that the opportunities were opening to broaden the Abraham Accords and that the leaders were working on it with "full vigour". The Accords were a set of agreements signed in 2020 that led to normalisation of diplomatic relations between Israel and several Arab nations, including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco. Netanyahu then praised the close ties between the two countries under Trump's leadership. "I also expressed to President Trump your appreciation, citizens of Israel, for the support for us, for the resolute action he took, and for the joint effort we are undertaking today to bring a great future to the Middle East and a great future to the State of Israel." The US president met Netanyahu on Tuesday (July 8), for the second time in two days, to discuss the situation in Gaza as Trump's Middle East envoy said that Israel and Hamas were nearing a ceasefire deal. Netanyahu nominates Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize This comes after Netanyahu nominated the US president for the Nobel Peace Prize, an honour the American leader has long coveted after one of his predecessors, Barack Obama, received it in 2009. Netanyahu handed a copy of the nomination letter to Trump during their dinner at the White House and said, “The President has already realised great opportunities. He forged the Abraham Accords. He’s forging peace as we speak in one country, in one region after the other. So, I want to present to you, Mr. President, the letter I sent to the Nobel Prize Committee. It’s nominating you for the Peace Prize, which is well deserved, and you should get it." Trump, who appeared to be surprised by the nomination, thanked the Israeli prime minister and said that he wasn't aware of it. “Thank you very much. This I did not know. Wow, thank you very much. Coming from you in particular, this is very meaningful," said Trump.
