Trump Meets Netanyahu at the White House for the Second Time in Two Months... Trump's Statements Surprised Israel. Netanyahu Apparently Left the Meeting with Trump Unlikely, and Did Not Receive Unconditional Support from Trump's Government Press Office

Yedioth Ahronoth, citing Israeli sources, reported that "US President Donald Trump is expected to ask Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to end the war on Gaza soon."

The newspaper added that US officials have informed their Israeli counterparts in recent days that President Trump is losing patience and has given Netanyahu more time to continue the fight, but not for long—perhaps two or three weeks—and that he wants the war to end soon.

The newspaper noted that the families of the Israeli prisoners have learned that the Trump administration is working behind the scenes to produce a new deal to release the prisoners and end the Gaza war. This deal would be part of Trump's comprehensive plan for the Middle East and ultimately advance normalization with Saudi Arabia.

Yedioth Ahronoth reported that US Vice President J.D. Vance assured a delegation of families of Israeli prisoners of his commitment to securing the release of all prisoners held in Gaza.

Strict Blackout

In a related context, the Israeli government's coordinator for prisoners and missing persons, Gal Hirsch, confirmed that the exchange negotiations are taking place amidst a strict blackout, noting that Israel is in constant contact with the Americans and the mediating countries.

Hirsch told Israel Hayom, "Despite what appears to be a stalemate in the efforts to return the abductees, work with the mediators is ongoing and intensive, and things are happening in this context."

Hirsch claimed that Israeli military, political, and logistical pressure on Hamas is having an impact.

In early March, the Netanyahu government violated the ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement with Hamas and resumed its aggression against the Gaza Strip.

Since resuming its genocide in Gaza on March 18, Israel has killed 1,449 Palestinians and wounded 3,647 others, most of them children and women, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health on Tuesday.

With American support, Israel has been committing genocidal crimes in Gaza since October 7, 2023, leaving more than 166,000 Palestinians dead and wounded, most of them children and women, and more than 11,000 missing.

Source: Al Jazeera + Yedioth Ahronoth