According to a report, the US administration signaled to Prime Minister Netanyahu that he would need to bring a tangible concession before meeting President Trump. Netanyahu chose the Gaza arena, pushing through a cabinet decision to approve the entry of an international stabilization force, despite Hamas not having disarmed. A source described the move as a gesture to Trump, and a departure from a previous cabinet principle requiring Hamas disarmament first.
The report, published by The Zioneer, details the behind-the-scenes diplomatic maneuvering ahead of a planned Trump-Netanyahu meeting. According to the report, the US transmitted a message through diplomatic channels that Netanyahu must arrive with "something" — a preliminary concession showing progress on one of the active fronts. After consultations with Ambassador Yechiel Leiter and Trump associates, Netanyahu selected the Gaza front.
On Monday, the cabinet approved the entry of an international stabilization force into Gaza, a move that bypasses the earlier cabinet principle requiring Hamas to disarm first. An Israeli source familiar with the discussion said Netanyahu advanced the decision as a "gesture to Trump," describing it as a retreat from a core security principle.
The report emerges against a backdrop of reported tensions between Trump and Netanyahu over the Iran nuclear deal and Israeli military operations, as previously covered by The Zioneer. The meeting itself has not been confirmed, and the condition suggests the US is demanding tangible Israeli steps before engaging at the highest level. This is a single-source account and remains unconfirmed by the Prime Minister's Office or the White House.
2 developments
- StrongStabilization force entry into Gaza requires PM's personal approval, source says
- StrongNetanyahu convenes hours-long security assessment as PM's office confirms Trump meeting conditional on weekend developments
- StrongNetanyahu seeks to advance Gaza moves ahead of Trump meeting, report says
- StrongUS official: Trump to meet Mideast leaders at G7; Netanyahu not invited
Source and signal
- Open-source intake