Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu departs for US to meet Trump

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu left for Washington, D.C., on Sunday to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump, with discussions expected to focus on regional security, the ongoing Gaza ceasefire negotiations, and Iran.

Speaking at Ben Gurion Airport before his departure, Netanyahu described the meeting as a testament to the strength of the Israeli-American alliance.

“We will discuss critical issues facing Israel and our region: victory over Hamas, securing the release of all our hostages, and addressing the Iranian terror axis in all its components,” Netanyahu stated.

The Israeli leader also said he hopes the discussions will contribute to strengthening Israel’s security, expanding peace agreements, and ushering in what he called a remarkable era.

Netanyahu delays Qatar talks until after US visit

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Sunday, Feb. 2, that he would delay sending a negotiation team to Qatar for discussions on the second phase of the ceasefire deal, choosing to wait until after his meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington, D.C.

According to a report by Walla News, an unnamed senior Israeli source confirmed that Netanyahu prefers to postpone the talks until after his discussions with Trump.

The decision comes as negotiations on the next phase of the ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement were set to begin on Monday, Feb. 3.

As a result, Netanyahu reportedly canceled a meeting with top Israeli security officials, including Mossad Chief David Barnea and Shin Bet Director Ronen Bar, instead sending his military secretary, Roman Gofman, to inform them of the postponement.

Additionally, Netanyahu is said to be considering appointing Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer to lead future negotiations, arguing that the talks are shifting from a security-focused approach to a diplomatic one, as reported by The Times of Israel.

I’m leaving for a very important meeting with President Trump in Washington. The fact that this would be President Trump’s first meeting with a foreign leader since his inauguration is telling. I think it’s a testimony to the strength of the Israeli-American alliance. It’s also a testimony to the strength of our friendship, that friendship, and that cooperation has already yielded important results for Israel in the Middle East, including the historic Abraham Accords, which President Trump led and which brought forth historic peace treaties between Israel and its neighbors.

This meeting will deal with important and critical issues facing Israel and our region. Victory over Hamas, achieving the release of all our hostages, and dealing with the Iranian terror axis and all its components, an axis that threatens the peace of Israel, the Middle East and the entire world.

The decisions we made in the war have already changed the face of the Middle East. Our decisions and the courage of our soldiers have redrawn the map. But I believe that working closely with President Trump, we can redraw it even further and for the better. I believe that we can strengthen security, broaden the circle of peace, and achieve a remarkable era of peace.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

Ceasefire talks and prisoner exchange

Netanyahu’s trip comes as Israel prepares to discuss the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement, which took effect on Jan. 19.

The three-phase ceasefire deal includes:

• A prisoner exchange between Israel and Palestinian factions.
• A sustained period of calm aimed at achieving a permanent truce.
• The potential withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.

So far, 18 captives have been released by Palestinian groups in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails.

Netanyahu’s office previously stated that the second phase of the ceasefire negotiations was set to begin on Feb. 3 in Washington, D.C., where he will also meet with Trump’s Middle East Envoy, Steve Witkoff.

Casualties and war crimes allegations

Since Oct. 7, 2023, Israel’s military offensive in Gaza has resulted in the deaths of more than 47,400 Palestinians, the majority of whom are women and children, according to local health authorities. The conflict has left much of the enclave in ruins.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants in November 2023 for Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, citing war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Gaza.

Additionally, Israel is facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) over its military actions in the enclave.

Netanyahu’s US schedule

Netanyahu is expected to return to Israel on Feb. 6, after his high-level discussions in Washington.

Ahead of his departure, Netanyahu suggested that his meeting with Trump could influence Israel’s future direction in the Middle East.

“I believe that by working closely with President Trump, we can redraw the map of the Middle East,” Netanyahu said, referencing previous U.S.-brokered normalization agreements between Israel and Arab states.

With Netanyahu prioritizing his Washington visit, the timeline for the next phase of the Qatar negotiations remains uncertain.