JERUSALEM: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is preparing to meet US President Donald Trump on Monday as he faces increasing international isolation and domestic pressure to end the ongoing Gaza conflict. The meeting comes after Trump unveiled a 21-point plan aimed at ending the war during discussions with Arab and Muslim leaders on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
Trump, in a post on his Truth Social platform, hinted at “something special” in the Middle East talks, emphasizing, “WE WILL GET IT DONE!!!” The US president expressed confidence on Friday, saying, “I think we have a deal” regarding Gaza, even as Netanyahu, speaking at the UN, reiterated his commitment to “finish the job” in Israel’s war against Hamas.
Experts suggest Netanyahu is under significant pressure to accept Trump’s ceasefire proposal. Eytan Gilboa, a US-Israel relations expert at Bar-Ilan University, remarked that Netanyahu “has no other choice” but to accept the plan, given the US remains one of Israel’s few allies on the global stage.
In Israel, tens of thousands of protesters have taken to the streets, urging Netanyahu to agree to a ceasefire. On Saturday, they called on Trump to leverage his influence over the Israeli government. Lishay Miran-Lavi, whose husband Omri Miran remains captive in Gaza, directly appealed to Trump, stating, “The only thing that can stop the slide into the abyss is a full, comprehensive agreement that ends the war and brings all the hostages and soldiers home.”
Israel’s international isolation has intensified recently, with nations such as the UK, France, Canada, and Australia officially recognizing Palestinian statehood, defying the US-led diplomatic stance.
Trump’s plan envisions a permanent ceasefire, the release of hostages, an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and a major influx of humanitarian aid, according to diplomatic sources.
