Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from Israel was traveling to Washington on Sunday to attend this week’s meetings with President Trump and senior administration officials at a pivotal moment for the Middle East.
Mr. Trump has explained that he wanted to end wars in the Middle East, which began with the Hamas -led assault in October 2023 on Israel, which led to 15 months of the devastating conflict in Gaza, which also spread to Lebanon. Before riding his plane on Sunday, Mr. Netanyahu made several references to “Peace”.
Mr. Netanyahu said: “The decisions we made in the war have already changed the face of the Middle East.” He added: “I think we can enhance security, expand the circle of peace and achieve a wonderful era of peace through strength.”
Mr. Netanyahu is expected to be the first foreign leader to meet with Mr. Trump since his inauguration last month. The Israeli leader is expected to hold training discussions with the Trump administration on many decisive regional issues.
The negotiations will start on Monday for the second stage of the ceasefire deal for Gaza, which would transform the temporary truce that entered into force on January 19 to a permanent stopping of hostilities between Israel and Hamas and witnessed the launch of everyone the remaining hostages residing there.
I am confident of the fragility of the situation on the ground, an Israeli plane launched on Sunday towards a vehicle in Gaza, the army said that the army was advancing north along an unauthorized road instead of the agreed inspection path, and breaking the days of calm in the Palestinian pocket. The Ministry of Health in Gaza has not immediately reported any death.
In addition, the pilot phase of the ceasefire in the United States for Lebanon is scheduled to end on February 18, at the time of the Israeli army and Hezbollah, who are supposed to evacuate the southern part of this country.
The comprehensive issues of the future of the Middle East remain on the agenda of Mr. Netanyahu during his visit. Those braking include Iran’s nuclear ambitions and support for armed agents on the borders of Israel, as well as the possibility of a large deal that includes official relations between Israel and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which is a major regional player.
Mr. Netanyahu from the runway on Sunday said that the issues that must be discussed with Mr. Trump include “victory over Hamas, achieving the launch of all our hostages and dealing with the Iranian terrorist axis in all its components.”
His office said that Mr. Netanyahu is expected to meet with Steve Witkev, Mr. Trump’s envoy in the Middle East, on Monday and with Mr. Trump on Tuesday.
The office of Mr. Netanyahu said in a statement that Mr. Netanyahu spoke on the phone with Mr. Witkev on Saturday, and the two men agreed to start negotiations for the second stage of the Gaza deal at their meeting on Monday. The schedule suggested that Mr. Wetkov will play a major role in the shuttle diplomacy.
There was no immediate comment from the White House or Mr. Witkov, who played an important role in mediation in the six -week initial stage of the ceasefire deal in Gaza. In the days before Mr. Trump took office, he was working in coordination with officials from the Biden Administration, as well as Qatar and Egypt – the two main countries between Israel and Hamas.
On Sunday, the Prime Minister of Qatar, Sheikh Muhammad bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani, told a press conference in Doha that his government “will continue to work in cooperation with our partners in the Arab Republic of Egypt and the United States to ensure full implementation to ensure the full implementation of this agreement.”
Naim Qasim, the leader of Hezbollah, in a speech on Sunday, accused Israel of failing to support the conditions of the truce of Lebanon. He called for pressure on the United States, which oversees the agreement, to ensure compliance. Israel says it is acting in southern Lebanon against Hezbollah violations.
Mr. Qasim also said that the funeral of Hassan Nasrallah, the Hezbollah president, has long been killed in an Israeli air strike in last fall, to be held on February 23.
For its part, the Israeli army has focused its focus over the past two weeks to the occupied West Bank, and described its actions as the fight against terrorism. The army said it had carried out air strikes against three armed teams late on Saturday and the detonation of 23 buildings in the northwestern city of Jenin on Sunday. In a statement, the army said that the structures served the militants as explosives laboratories, monitoring publications, or weapons stores.
But Mr. Netanyahu’s visit to Washington comes in a more hopeful atmosphere in Israel and Gaza. The first phase of the ceasefire on the past two weeks has witnessed 13 Israeli hostages, including a dual American American citizen, in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and detainees.
She thanked many of the hostages of the hostages who were issued by Mr. Trump and his team for obtaining the long -awaited deal on the finish line after months of efforts by the Biden administration.
But the questions surrounding the next stage are still unlawful. Mr. Netanyahu vow publicly, bitter and repeatedly to destroy military capabilities, rule in Hamas, and to maintain the option to return to the fight after the initial stage of the deal, if necessary.
The photos of the militants who are the Hamas weapon who are organizing the delivery ceremony from the hostages to the Red Cross have confirmed to the degree that the group continues to control in Gaza.
Mr. Witkeov made a rare visit to the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, according to an official at the White House, with the aim of strengthening the ceasefire, which also allowed tens of thousands of Palestinians displaced to return to their homes. Mr. Witkeov also visited the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia before meeting Mr. Netanyahu in Israel last week.
Mr. Trump raised the idea on several occasions that Ghazan should be transferred collectively to Egypt and Jordan. His proposal repeats an idea that floats in Israel early on the war and the desires of the Israeli extremist right that the Palestinians are encouraged to leave Gaza.
But on Saturday, Egypt and Jordan – alongside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries – warned in a joint statement that any plan encouraged “the transfer or uprooting of the Palestinians from their lands” would threaten regional stability and “undermine the opportunities of peace and coexistence between its people.”
Gabi Sobilman and Mira Novik It contributed to the reports from Israel, and ISMAEEL NAAR From Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
