Egypt Daily News – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu left the White House without a joint statement or press conference with former U.S. President Donald Trump following a two-hour meeting, in a move that may signal behind-the-scenes tensions. The report comes from the Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth, which noted that Trump had applied considerable pressure on Netanyahu during the talks.
Prior to Netanyahu’s arrival, Israel’s Channel 14 reported that the meeting was being promoted in Washington as a “major victory.” Netanyahu was reportedly granted entry through the back door typically reserved for Trump, a gesture interpreted by some as a sign of a strong personal relationship. However, other media outlets offered different interpretations following the meeting.
The discussion focused heavily on efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza. According to the Israeli news site Walla, both sides reached a general understanding on which party would handle the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, most likely the United Nations. Still, the issue of Israeli military deployment in Gaza remains a key point of contention.
Netanyahu is insisting on maintaining Israel’s hold on the Morag corridor, which separates southern Gaza from the rest of the territory. He refers to the corridor as “Philadelphia 2,” a term for the planned buffer zone. This stance complicates Israel’s plans to evacuate parts of the area designated for what it calls a future “humanitarian city.”
Following the meeting, the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office issued a brief statement confirming the talks with Trump and his running mate, J.D. Vance, without offering further details.
In later remarks, Netanyahu stated, “My meeting with President Trump focused on the efforts to secure the release of hostages held in Gaza. We also discussed the significance of our major success against Iran. I remain committed to achieving our goals, which include eliminating Hamas’s military and administrative capabilities.”
Meanwhile, U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff postponed his planned trip to Doha. Just hours earlier, he had expressed hope that a deal between Israel and Hamas could be reached by the end of the week. He also noted that the number of unresolved issues had narrowed from four to just one: the Morag corridor.
Earlier, Axios reported that a Qatari delegation had visited the White House for high-level discussions about a potential prisoner exchange and ceasefire agreement in Gaza. The Qatari officials reportedly met with senior U.S. figures for several hours prior to Netanyahu’s arrival.
Multiple Israeli media outlets have confirmed that the issue of Israeli troop deployment remains unresolved and is among the most complex topics under negotiation.
