International
Israeli Prime Minister, Netanyahu Heads to US for Ceasefire Talks with Trump
- Netanyahu travels to the U.S. for talks on the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire.
- Meeting with Trump to focus on hostages, Hamas, and regional security.
- ICC arrest warrant looms over Netanyahu’s first U.S. visit since its issuance.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is en route to the United States to discuss the next phase of the ceasefire agreement with Hamas in Gaza, his office announced on Sunday.
Talks on the second stage of the ceasefire are set to begin in Washington, DC, on Monday, with Netanyahu scheduled to meet US President Donald Trump at the White House on Tuesday.
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The meeting marks Trump’s first engagement with a foreign leader since the start of his second term.
The ceasefire, implemented two weeks ago, led to the release of 33 Israeli captives in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. The upcoming negotiations are expected to focus on the release of the remaining captives and discussions on a more lasting resolution to the conflict.
The truce halted 15 months of Israeli military operations in Gaza, which Palestinian health officials say have resulted in over 47,000 deaths, more than half of them women and children.
Speaking at Tel Aviv airport before his departure, Netanyahu said his talks with Trump would centre on “defeating Hamas, securing the release of all our hostages, and countering Iran’s influence in the region.”
He emphasized the significance of being the first foreign leader to meet Trump, calling it a testament to the “strong US-Israel alliance.”
This visit also marks Netanyahu’s first trip to the US since the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant against him in November for alleged war crimes in Gaza.
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While the US previously supported the ICC’s warrant against Russian President Vladimir Putin over the Ukraine conflict, Washington does not recognize the court’s jurisdiction.
Senior US officials have since pushed to sanction the ICC over its actions against Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, even threatening to impose penalties on its top prosecutors and their families.
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