United States president Donald Trump on Monday hosted Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House and claimed that the talks to end the war in Gaza have been "going along very well," This is Netanyahu’s third visit to the states since Trump became president.
"I don't think there is a hold up. I think things are going along very well," Trump told reporters at the start of the dinner, AFP reported. He also asserted that Hamas was willing to end the 21-month conflict. "They want to meet and they want to have that ceasefire," he said.
The meeting was held as Israel and Hamas conducted the second day of indirect talks in Qatar.
Both the leaders were asked about potential plans to relocate Palestinians. Netanyahu said that he was working with the US to allow Palestinians to have a better future. "If people want to stay, they can stay, but if they want to leave, they should be able to leave," Netanyahu said.
Netanyahu ruled out a full Palestinian state and said that Israel will always keep control over the Gaza strip. “Now, people will say it's not a complete state, it's not a state. We don't care," he said.
The Israeli leader also claimed to have nominated Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize. "He's forging peace as we speak, in one country, in one region after the other," Netanyahu said.
Trump had earlier claimed that Israel had agreed to the “necessary conditions” to finalise a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza. He released a statement on his Truth Social platform stating that "Israel has agreed to the necessary conditions to finalize the 60 Day CEASEFIRE, during which time we will work with all parties to end the War.”
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