Netanyahu to discuss war in Gaza during White House visit

President Donald Trump was scheduled to host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House Monday evening. The planned meeting came nearly a week after Hamas refused to accept a U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal. Netanyahu planned to meet with all senior members of the Trump administration, along with senior members of Congress from both parties, and other key figures, according to a Sunday statement. Trump and Netanyahu planned to continue working towards the much-discussed ceasefire proposal, according to the Sunday statement. A negotiation team has been dispatched with clear instructions, and conversations with Trump are expected to advance a deal that would be advantageous for the Middle East region, Netanyahu added.

What will Netanyahu and Trump discuss? The prime minister planned to thank Trump for his support of Israel amid its short-lived war with Iran, and specifically for his strikes against Iran’s nuclear weapon development. Netanyahu emphasized the need to preserve the joint win against Iran and remain vigilant of future Iranian attempts to muster nuclear power. He also noted the opportunity to foster regional peace by keeping Iran's power and influence in check. The Middle East has already been changed beyond recognition, and it can now be changed even more for the mutual benefit of Israel and the surrounding Middle East, he said.

Netanyahu also reiterated his commitment to working with the United States to release all hostages held by Hamas, crushing the terror group, and ensuring that the region poses no threat to Israel, he added in the Sunday statement.

What has the White House said about the prime minister’s visit? Speaking to reporters Monday afternoon, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt characterized Netanyahu’s visit as a closed-door private dinner. Trump’s highest priority in the Middle East is to end Israel’s war with the terror group Hamas and to recover all of the Israeli hostages, Leavitt said.

Dig deeper: Read Elizabeth Russell’s report on Hamas rejecting the U.S.-backed ceasefire plan last week.