Trump holds 'maximum pressure' meeting with Netanyahu on Gaza; Report: US backs permanent ceasefire

[Almost Heaven]

A Qatari delegation arrived in Washington earlier this week for meetings with senior U.S. administration officials. Simultaneously, Hamas and Israeli negotiators remain in Doha. Steve Witkoff, Trump’s special envoy for the Middle East, said the number of unresolved issues had dropped from four to one and expressed optimism that an agreement could be reached by the weekend.

The unannounced Oval Office meeting—Netanyahu’s fourth with Trump in six months—centered almost exclusively on Gaza. “We’ve got to solve that. Gaza is a tragedy,” Trump said ahead of the talks. “He wants to get it solved. I want to get it solved. I think the other side wants to solve it too.” Sources reported that Trump applied "maximum pressure" on Netanyahu regarding efforts to reach a ceasefire in Gaza.

Netanyahu arrived without public notice and left the White House after about 90 minutes without making a joint statement. U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance also attended the meeting and later held a brief follow-up with the Israeli leader.
“We focused on all efforts to secure the release of our abductees,” Netanyahu said afterward. “We will not stop—not even for a moment—and this is possible because of the military pressure applied by our brave soldiers. Tragically, this effort comes at a painful cost, with the fall of our best sons.”

Israel continues to press for the return of hostages taken by Hamas during the October 7 cross-border assault, which sparked the ongoing conflict. Netanyahu said Israel remained committed to its three war aims: releasing all hostages, dismantling Hamas’s military and governing capabilities, and ensuring Gaza will no longer pose a threat to Israeli civilians.

The meeting comes as indirect negotiations mediated by Qatar are nearing a potential breakthrough. According to Israeli and American officials, only one major disagreement remains between Israel and Hamas. The sides are discussing a 60-day ceasefire deal that would include the release of 10 living hostages in two phases, the return of 18 bodies of slain hostages, the release of Palestinian terrorists from Israeli jails, and expanded humanitarian aid to Gaza. Trump would serve as a guarantor for follow-up negotiations.

Trump holds 'maximum pressure' meeting with Netanyahu on Gaza; Report: US backs permanent ceasefire

Primary sticking point reportedly involves Israel’s plan to retain control over a narrow stretch of land in southern Gaza known as the Morag Corridor, a military route running just south of Khan Younis

www.ynetnews.com

 

[Greg]

Release all the hostages now. Anything else is unacceptable and a failure.

 

[Almost Heaven]

Far too late for any deals. Let Israel finish the mission and handle after war any way that benefits Israel only!
No reason to pressure Israel about handling their war!!!

 

[Greg]

We'll see, but I fear President Trump is letting his ego get in the way and the carrot of bringing "peace" to the middle east surpasses all other concerns. I really hope I'm wrong on that.

 

[KMendel]

The problem is - and always will be - that every time a peace plan is put into place, Hamas breaks it.
Israel doesn't........ but, they do react to the attacks from the broken treaties....... in self defense.
Then the world blames Israel. Repeat. Repeat.
Trump shouldn't be putting "heavy pressure" on Israel. He should be putting it on the PLO.
They should have to turn over ALL the hostages immediately - not in two weeks - before ANYTHING else moves forward.
And, let Israel do whatever it has to do until they are released. They have been used as pawns for FAR to long,

 

[mattfivefour]

I agree with everything that is being said above. However I do want to point out that the term "heavy pressure" is an editorial insertion by the Ynet staff. It may not accurately convey what actually occurred.

 

[Margery]

It's gotten difficult to discern the truth. We live in a fog of lies, spin and outright deception.

It is extremely important to hear the warnings, and pray for Israel even more fervently when they seem to be under pressure. That means praying for Israel and our leaders to support Israel.

These warnings are important to hear.

One sure source of information does remain to us.

The Bible. We can ask "does this info line up with the Bible?" And it does.

We know that eventually Israel stands alone. The process of getting there may involve repeated incidents where their only faithful ally the USA puts pressure on, or tries to push them to do stuff they know is wrong.

Which would be more comfortable and easier to live thru- a series of warnings that things aren't going well, followed up by actual support?

OR a sudden shock at the Rapture when Israel is forced to be on their own.

I suggest that whether or not individual reports are fully accurate we might be in a season where God is gently removing their habit of leaning on the States to help them thru.

God also expects us to pray for them "pray for the peace of Jerusalem". He answers those prayers by shoring up supports.

Huckabee God Bless him, is in there countering the wickedness and pressure of Witkoff. But it's a push pull going on, with the neo conservatives pushing Trump to abandon Israel, to be pragmatic and stay out of their conflicts. Some of those voices are anti semitic, just like Kissinger was under Nixon who even though he was a Jew, told Nixon to "let them bleed". Thankfully Nixon didn't listen to Kissinger and sent help.

The evangelicals that support Israel are pulling Trump towards a Biblical view to protect Israel (and by protecting Israel, protecting the USA.

I see it as a process gradually weaning Israel off supports to stand on their own. They won't of course- they will sign that deal with the AC that kicks off the Tribulation, but it will be the last time they lean on someone other than their God and ours.

While we remain down here, we can put up a wall of safety, a prayer fortress if you will around Israel.

When we go, that safety net will be obvious by it's absence, and perhaps that will be yet another sign that the Christians of every nation- who stand for Israel, pray for her and act as salt and light by deterring their leaders from being completely antisemitic- these protectors are gone.

The Rapture will be a sign to the Jews. The people who truly stood by them are gone now. Ezek 38 will point them to the truth, that God and God alone is their help but by the time the AC rolls in with his plan, they will sign on to that just as they've made bad treaties with Egypt as an example in the past.

Both Ezek 38 and the Rapture are signposts pointing them to God.

I think it's obvious as we watch the process in Washington that the enemy isn't giving up his fight just because Trump is in office, and Huckabee has his ear.

Prayer.

For Israel!

 

[Andy C]

Regardless of what we read being true, exaggerated or out and out false, what we do know is Israel has never had a better partner than who is currently occupying the Whitehouse.

 

[Margery]

Regardless of what we read being true, exaggerated or out and out false, what we do know is Israel has never had a better partner than who is currently occupying the Whitehouse.

And that President needs all the prayer we can pray to God, interceding on his behalf!!! As does Benjamin Netanyahu! And the leaders they surround themselves with.