WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday said he will be “very firm” with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the need to end the war in Gaza, as the two leaders prepare to meet at the White House on July 7.
Speaking during a visit to a migrant detention center in Florida, Trump expressed hope for a ceasefire in the long-running Gaza conflict “sometime next week,” coinciding with Netanyahu’s scheduled visit.
“We hope it’s going to happen, and we’re looking for it to happen sometime next week,” Trump told reporters before departing Washington.
Trump’s remarks come amid renewed optimism for a Gaza truce following the conclusion of Israel’s 12-day war with Iran, a conflict that erupted after U.S. airstrikes targeted nuclear facilities in Tehran. The brief but intense confrontation has opened a diplomatic window for addressing the Gaza crisis, which has dragged on for nearly 21 months.
The war in Gaza began after Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, triggering an extensive Israeli military response that has led to severe humanitarian conditions for the more than two million Palestinians in the territory.
Although Trump has previously encouraged Israel to “make the deal in Gaza,” Israeli forces have continued their offensive operations across the region.
Asked how assertive he would be with Netanyahu on ending the fighting, Trump replied: “Very firm.” He added, “But he wants it too… He wants to end it too.”
The upcoming White House meeting will mark Netanyahu’s third visit since Trump’s return to office in January. It follows a controversial social media post from Trump over the weekend, in which he appeared to condition U.S. aid to Israel on the dismissal of long-standing corruption charges against the Israeli leader.
Netanyahu was the first foreign leader to visit Trump during his second term, attending a February meeting where the U.S. president floated a bold plan for the United States to “take over” Gaza—a proposal that sparked intense international debate.
With a ceasefire potentially within reach, the July 7 meeting could prove pivotal in shaping the future of Gaza and broader Middle East peace efforts.
