Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to have a formal meeting with US President Donald Trump in Washington, DC on Tuesday, as confirmed by the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office. This meeting marks Netanyahu as the first world leader to engage in official discussions with Trump since his inauguration.
The agenda for the meeting will cover a range of critical topics, including discussions on Gaza, the recent hostage situations, the challenges posed by various elements of the Iranian axis, and other significant issues, as stated by Netanyahu’s office over the weekend.
President Trump had previously invited several world leaders to his inauguration on January 20, such as Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. However, this upcoming meeting with Netanyahu will be the first formal interaction with a world leader since the commencement of his second term in office.
The announcement of the meeting follows the recent release of hostages and prisoners under the Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement. Over the weekend, an Israeli-American man and two Israeli men were freed in exchange for the release of close to 200 Palestinian prisoners.
Notably, Trump had previously suggested a controversial plan for the Gaza Strip, proposing to “clean out” the enclave and relocate hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to neighboring countries. This idea was promptly rejected in a statement issued by a significant coalition of Arab nations.
