United States President Donald Trump plans to host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Jul 7, a United States authorities said, as the US president pushed for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, and the return of staying hostages.Ron Dermer, a top adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is in Washington today to consult with authorities at the White House, Trumps spokesperson Karoline Leavitt informed press reporters at a press briefing on Monday (Jun 30).
An Israeli official in Washington also validated the conference next Monday.
The 2 leaders are anticipated to talk about Iran, Gaza, Syria and other regional challenges, the official added.The visit was first reported by Axios.Israel ramped up its attacks on northern Gaza on Monday, a day after Trump urged an end to the 20-month-old war, publishing on social networks: Make the deal in Gaza, get the hostages back.Israeli strikes killed a minimum of 60 people throughout Gaza on Monday in a few of the heaviest attacks in weeks.Leavitt informed press reporters the Trump administration remained in constant communication with the Israeli federal government, stating Trump saw ending the war in Gaza and returning remaining captives held by the Palestinian militant group Hamas as a leading priority.She said it was heartbreaking to see images coming from both Gaza and Israel, however Trumps main concern was protecting the release of the remaining hostages.The war started when Hamas fighters stormed into Israel on Oct 7, 2023, eliminated 1,200 people, most of them civilians, and took 251 hostages back to Gaza in a surprise attack that resulted in Israels single deadliest day.Israels subsequent military assault has eliminated more than 56,000 Palestinians, most of them civilians, according to the Gaza health ministry, displaced practically the entire 2.3 million population and plunged the enclave into a humanitarian crisis.Source: Reuters-- Agencies