The White House and Netanyahu’s office announced Tuesday that former President Trump has invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for a White House visit next week, marking Netanyahu’s first foreign trip as a leader in Trump’s second term.
This announcement coincides with U.S. efforts to maintain a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, following a devastating 15-month war in Gaza. Negotiations for the ceasefire’s second phase, aiming for a complete end to hostilities, commence next Monday.
A White House letter, dated Tuesday and shared by Netanyahu’s office, stated: “I look forward to discussing how we can bring peace to Israel and its neighbors, and efforts to counter our shared adversaries.”
The February 4th meeting provides Netanyahu, facing domestic pressure, an opportunity to showcase continued support from Trump and defend Israel’s wartime actions. The two men last met at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida nearly four years ago.
As the largest recipient of U.S. military aid, Israel will likely seek Trump’s assurance against potential weapons delivery delays, unlike those experienced under the Biden administration (though other aid continued).
Netanyahu also aims to secure increased pressure on Iran from Trump, along with renewed efforts towards a normalization agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia.
Even before his recent inauguration, Trump dispatched his special Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, to the region, collaborating with the Biden administration to achieve the current Gaza ceasefire.
However, Netanyahu has pledged to resume hostilities if Hamas fails to meet his demands during the second phase of ceasefire negotiations, focused on a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and lasting peace.
Over 375,000 return to northern Gaza
According to the United Nations, over 375,000 Palestinians have returned to northern Gaza since Monday morning, when Israel permitted their return. This represents over one-third of the million who fled at the war’s outset.
Many Palestinians, traveling along coastal roads or by vehicle after security checks, witnessed the devastation in northern Gaza for the first time under the now two-week-old ceasefire.
Trump recently suggested that Egypt and Jordan temporarily host displaced Palestinians from Gaza for a complete area cleanup – a proposition swiftly rejected by Egypt, Jordan, and the Palestinians, fearing Israel would prevent their return.
Instead, Palestinians are establishing temporary shelters or sleeping outdoors amidst the rubble. After months in overcrowded camps in southern Gaza, they are finally returning home.
“It’s still better for us to be on our land than to live on a land that’s not yours,” said Fayza al-Nahal, preparing to travel from Khan Younis in the south to the north.
At least two Palestinians embarked on the journey by sea, using a small boat.
Hani Al-Shanti, displaced from Gaza City, expressed hope for peace, even in rudimentary shelter. One returning woman hung laundry amid the ruins of her home.
Next steps
The ceasefire agreement stipulates further hostage releases; Palestinian prisoners from Israeli custody and hostages held in Gaza will be released Thursday and Saturday.
The ceasefire’s first phase involves the release of all 33 hostages taken in the October 7th, 2023 Hamas attack, and almost 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.
Israel recently confirmed that eight of the 33 hostages slated for release are deceased, causing further distress to Israeli families.
On Tuesday, one of the first hostages released under the current ceasefire shared details of her captivity.
Naama Levy, 20, shared on social media that she spent the first 50 days alone before joining other captured soldiers and civilians.
“We strengthened each other until the day of our release, and also afterwards,” she wrote.
Aid flows in
Humanitarian aid continues to flow into Gaza under the ceasefire.
“In this past week alone, approximately 4,200 trucks carrying aid have entered the Gaza Strip following inspections,” stated Israel’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel.
The agreement stipulates the entry of 600 aid trucks daily.
Qatar, a mediator in the ceasefire talks, reported Tuesday that while both sides have voiced complaints, no ceasefire violations have threatened the agreement’s stability.
The ceasefire aims to conclude the deadliest conflict between Israel and Hamas. Militants killed approximately 1,200 people, mostly civilians, in the October 7th attack and abducted another 250.
Israel’s response, involving air and ground offensives, resulted in over 47,000 Palestinian deaths, over half women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. Israel claims to have killed over 17,000 militants, without providing supporting evidence.
—Lidman reported from Nahariya, Israel. Associated Press writers Tia Goldenberg in Tel Aviv, Israel, and Zeke Miller in Washington contributed to this report.
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