Author: Unknown
Published on: 05/02/2025 | 00:00:00
AI Summary:
Trump has welcomed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the White House. But Tuesday’s meeting was steeped in controversy as Trump repeatedly weighed in on the future of war-torn Gaza. Trump also suggested that the US aims to “take over” a depopulated Gaza, shaping its landscape for years to come. A fragile ceasefire recently paused hostilities in Gaza where, for the past 15 months, Israel has led a devastating military campaign. Netanyahu is the first foreign head of state to visit Trump since his second inauguration on January 20. The two countries indicated that a range of topics would be on the table for discussion. One announced the return of his “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran. Netanyahu’s government has accused UNRWA of involvement in the attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, without offering proof to substantiate the claim. Some activists denounced his invitation to the White House as an honour bestowed to a “war criminal”. In November, the International Criminal Court in the Hague has issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu on charges of crimes against humanity and war crimes. “There’s not a lot left to strike,” a spokesperson for the Palestinian group Hamas said. The initial 42-day truce will see the release of 33 Israeli captives and nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. If agreed to, that phase would see the full withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza and the freeing of all captives. Netanyahu has portrayed Iran as Israel’s greatest threat. Netanyahu chuckled as he recalls how Trump withdraws from joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. For his part, Trump played up his decision to return to the “maximum pressure” strategy he pursued. Critics have warned Netanyahu may exploit this moment to seek US assistance in striking Iran’s nuclear facilities. At a news conference on Tuesday, Nihad Awad urged Trump to stand up against any Israeli attempt to launch an offensive targeting Iran.
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