Netanyahu Heads To US For Trump Meeting Amid Gaza Ceasefire, First Leader To Visit DC Since Jan 20
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Benjamin Netanyahu will meet Donald Trump at the White House on Tuesday, according to the Israeli PMO. The two leaders will discuss Hamas, Iran among other issues.
US President Donald Trump and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu (Reuters File Image)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu departed for the United States on Sunday to meet President Donald Trump, becoming the first world leader to make a trip to Washington DC since the Republican leader’s inauguration last month.
While leaders from various countries, including External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar from India, attended Trump’s inauguration ceremony on January 20 this year, it is the first official state visit by a world leader to meet Trump for a bilateral.
Netanyahu has been invited to visit Trump at the White House where their meeting is scheduled on Tuesday, the Israeli PMO earlier said, noting that both leaders will hold discussions on the situation in Gaza, hostages held in captivity by Hamas. Israel’s recent confrontation with Iran and Iran-backed militias.
Netanyahu’s Departure Statement
Ahead of departing for the US, Netanyahu underlined that he is the first world leader who Trump will meet since his January 20 inauguration, which is a “testimony to the strength of the Israeli-American alliance”.
“It’s also a testimony to the strength of our personal friendship,” he said.
Giving away details of the topics around which the discussion between the two Heads of State would revolve, the Israeli PM said that Hamas, Iran, and the Middle East would cover a large chunk of the conversation.
“In this meeting, we’ll deal with important issues, critical issues facing Israel and our region: victory over Hamas, achieving the release of all our hostages, and dealing with the Iranian terror axis in all its components—an axis that threatens the peace of Israel, the Middle East and the entire world,” Netanyahu said.
I’m leaving for a very important meeting with @realDonaldTrump 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… pic.twitter.com/wWYrC7mYrF
— Benjamin Netanyahu – בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) February 2, 2025
‘We Can Redraw Middle East Map Further’: Netanyahu
He expressed hope that Israel can work closely with Trump to “redraw” the already “redrawn map” of the Middle East “for the better”.
“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 by 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 through strength,” he said.
The meeting between the two world leaders comes amid a fragile six-week ceasefire with Hamas, bringing a temporary halt to the 15 months of fighting.
“There will be a single working meeting on February 4 and more details will soon be forthcoming,” a US official said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to visit the United States this month, Trump earlier told reporters.
