Yedioth Ahronoth: Trump pressured Netanyahu to cease fire

US President Donald Trump exerted “intense pressure” on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during their second meeting in less than 24 hours at the White House to reach a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

The Israeli Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper reported that Netanyahu left the meeting without making any public statements.

The meeting, held in the Oval Office on Tuesday evening, focused almost exclusively on the situation in Gaza, according to Trump’s remarks.

The US president said, “Gaza is a tragedy… We’ve to find a solution… I want it, Netanyahu wants it, and I think the other side wants it, too”.

Trump intends to escalate pressure on Netanyahu to end the war.

A US source said, “The US pressure began tonight, and it will be intense,” a statement also confirmed by a Middle Eastern diplomatic source.

Reports indicated that a Qatari delegation arrived in Washington, DC, at the same time as Netanyahu, to hold talks with US officials regarding efforts to reach a prisoner exchange deal and ceasefire.

Discussions are underway regarding a framework for an agreement that includes a 60-day ceasefire, the release of 10 living prisoners in two phases, the return of the bodies of 18 prisoners, the release of Palestinian prisoners, and increased humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.

Trump is expected to be a guarantor of this agreement.

Israeli sources indicate that the main obstacle to the negotiations relates to Netanyahu’s insistence on maintaining Israeli control over the Morag axis south of Rafah, which he calls the “Philadelphi 2 Corridor”.

This insistence contravenes the recommendations of the Israeli security establishment and could be a reason for the negotiations to falter.

According to media reports, this issue threatens the work of the US aid fund in Gaza, which cannot operate in areas under Israeli military control.

This may force Washington to resort to alternative international relief organizations.

Concurrently, Israel announced its intention to establish a “humanitarian city” in Rafah, on the ruins of the destroyed city, to serve as a civilian complex for Gaza residents, free from Hamas control.

This move is linked to the Israeli military’s continued presence in the Morag axis.

The families of the kidnapped Israelis called on President Trump, via Truth Social, to “make history” by ending the war and returning the captives.

Rotem Cooper, the son of one of the kidnapped Israelis, said the Trump administration’s commitment is “more tangible” than the Israeli position, emphasizing that ending the war is a condition for any deal.

The closed-door meeting was preceded by a lengthy dinner between Netanyahu and Trump, attended by US officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hasegawa.

During a joint press conference, Trump was asked about his previous plan to transfer Gaza residents and referred the question to Netanyahu, who responded that the vision was based on “freedom of choice” and that Gaza shouldn’t be a prison.

Despite progress on some issues, Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, confirmed that the number of outstanding issues had decreased to just one, expressing hope that an agreement would be reached before the end of the week, amid ongoing meetings between Hamas and the Israeli side in Doha.