Netanyahu’s day began with a morning meeting at Blair House with JD Vance. This was followed by a discussion with Mike Johnson at the Capitol. Later in the afternoon, Netanyahu returned to Blair House for further consultations before heading to the Senate, where he met Senate majority leader John Thune, senator John Fetterman, and other key lawmakers.
These meetings come just one day after Netanyahu met with President Trump, marking their first face-to-face since the United States conducted airstrikes against Iran’s nuclear sites during a brief military escalation between Israel and Iran. During their meeting, Netanyahu informed Trump of his intent to nominate him for the Nobel peace prize, citing his diplomatic efforts in the Middle East. Netanyahu presented Trump with a formal letter to be sent to the Nobel committee and praised his leadership. “You deserve it,” Netanyahu told Trump. In response, Trump said the gesture meant a lot to him personally.
One of the central issues discussed was the ongoing 21-month-long war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas. The conflict has claimed nearly 60,000 lives, most of them Palestinian civilians. President Trump was expected to push Netanyahu to consider a ceasefire amid growing international concern over the humanitarian situation in the region. However, no official timeline or agreement was disclosed after the meeting.
Meanwhile, indirect negotiations resumed in Qatar between Israeli and Hamas representatives for the first time in over six weeks. Both sides have expressed measured optimism, but major issues remain unresolved. These include Israeli demands for Hamas to be removed from Gaza and security assurances that the war will not resume post-ceasefire.
During the White House meeting, President Trump was asked if he believed Palestinians should be forced out of Gaza. He deferred the question to Netanyahu, who replied, “It’s called free choice. If people want to stay, they can stay, but if they want to leave, they should be able to leave.” He added that Israel was working closely with the US to find nations that might help resettle Palestinians who voluntarily choose to leave Gaza.
The Israeli leader insisted that the region should not become a prison, but a place where people have the option to seek better lives. He said several countries have shown interest in offering solutions to help the Palestinians build a more stable future, and he believed that cooperation could soon result in practical options.
Trump also shared his thoughts on Iran, stating that he hoped the US would not need to launch another strike. He suggested that Iran’s stance had changed recently, saying, “They want to work something out.” While he declined to provide details or dates, he assured reporters that further information would be shared soon.
When the topic shifted to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, President Trump expressed disappointment in Russian president Vladimir Putin. “I’m not happy with President Putin at all,” he said. “I’m disappointed, frankly, that President Putin hasn’t stopped.” Trump confirmed that the US would continue to provide weapons to Ukraine, even as the Pentagon reviews its munitions supplies. “We’re going to send some more weapons. We have to. They’re getting hit very hard now.”
President Trump also claimed during the meeting that Hamas had shown interest in a ceasefire. However, he did not provide specifics or indicate whether formal talks had started. On the question of a two-state solution, he once again directed attention to Netanyahu, who restated Israel’s position that it would maintain control of overall security in any future arrangement.
“I think the Palestinians should have all the powers to govern themselves, but none of the powers to threaten us,” Netanyahu said. He added that a broad peace agreement involving all of Israel’s neighbors could be achieved through President Trump’s leadership and ongoing regional cooperation.
Before flying to Washington, Netanyahu said he was confident that a ceasefire deal was within reach. He confirmed that Israeli negotiators were given clear directives to pursue an agreement under previously stated Israeli terms. Officials close to Netanyahu described the tone of initial discussions in Qatar as positive, though Palestinian representatives were more reserved, noting that talks on Sunday ended without breakthroughs.
Earlier in the week, Netanyahu also held meetings with key American diplomatic and security officials. His ongoing visit underscores the significance of current discussions and the strong role the United States continues to play in Middle East peace efforts. The announcement of President Trump’s Nobel peace prize nomination adds symbolic weight to this high-level engagement, even as tangible outcomes remain uncertain. With violence continuing in Gaza and diplomatic efforts intensifying, the coming days could prove pivotal in reshaping the trajectory of the conflict and broader regional relations.
