Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet US President Donald Trump on Monday, facing growing isolation abroad and escalating pressure at home over his vow to “finish the job” in Gaza.
The meeting comes shortly after Trump unveiled a 21-point peace plan on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. The proposal, welcomed by Arab and Muslim leaders, calls for a permanent ceasefire, hostage releases, Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and a surge in humanitarian aid. But it also envisions the Palestinian Authority (PA) returning to govern Gaza, a prospect fiercely opposed by Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition.
On Sunday, Trump hinted at “something special” in the talks, writing on Truth Social, “WE WILL GET IT DONE!!!” He earlier told reporters, “I think we have a deal,” despite Netanyahu’s UN pledge to continue the war against Hamas.
Analysts suggest Netanyahu may have little choice but to accept at least parts of the US plan, given Israel’s reliance on Trump as its last major international ally. Eytan Gilboa, an expert on US-Israel relations, said: “He has no other choice but to accept.”
Domestically, protests demanding a ceasefire and hostage release have swelled, with families of captives directly appealing to Trump. “Use your influence with Prime Minister Netanyahu,” urged Lishay Miran-Lavi, whose husband remains in captivity.
The situation is further complicated by internal politics. Several far-right ministers have threatened to topple Netanyahu’s coalition if he allows the PA to return or halts the war without a decisive Hamas defeat. However, opposition leader Yair Lapid has offered to support a ceasefire deal in parliament, suggesting a potential “safety net” if Netanyahu’s government fractures.
Still, experts warn the plan’s more contentious elements, such as governance of Gaza and the establishment of an international security force, remain undefined. “This plan is internationalising the Gaza conflict in an unprecedented way,” said former Knesset member Ksenia Svetlova. “But without a clear plan on who will be the guiding star… the unpredictability factor runs wild.”
What you should know
Netanyahu enters the Washington talks under intense pressure, balancing Trump’s sweeping peace proposal with the survival of his fragile right-wing coalition.
The outcome could shape not just the future of Gaza, but Israel’s global standing and domestic political stability.
