Trump frustrated by Gaza war, wants Netanyahu to "wrap it up": U.S. officials
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Netanyahu and Trump in the Oval Office. Photo: Jabin Botsford/Washington Post via Getty
President Trump has been frustrated by the ongoing war in Gaza and upset by images of suffering of Palestinian children, and has told his aides to tell Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu he wants him to wrap it up, two White House officials tell Axios.
Why it matters: U.S. and Israeli officials deny that Trump is prepared to "abandon" Israel, or that he is applying intense pressure on Netanyahu. But they admit there are growing policy differences between a president who wants to end the war and a prime minister who is massively expanding it.
- "The president is frustrated about what is happening in Gaza. He wants the war to end, he wants the hostages to come home, he wants aid to go in and he wants to start rebuilding Gaza," one White House official said.
Driving the news: In the days since Trump's trip to the region, the U.S. has been pressing both Israel and Hamas to accept a new proposal presented by White House envoy Steve Witkoff for a hostage and ceasefire deal.
- Witkoff has been speaking directly with Netanyahu and his top adviser Ron Dermer, and to Hamas leadership through a backchannel facilitated by Palestinian-American businessman Bishara Bahbah.
- The negotiations have shown little progress. Meanwhile, the Israel Defense Forces are proceeding with an operation to displace all 2 million Palestinians in Gaza to a "humanitarian zone" and flatten most of the enclave.
- The logjam in the talks and the situation on the ground convinced Vice President Vance to scrap plans for a visit to Israel this week. His decision sheds light on how the U.S. feels about the current Israeli policy in Gaza.
The other side: An Israeli official told Axios that at the moment, Netanyahu doesn't feel strong pressure from Trump. "If the president wants a hostage and ceasefire deal in Gaza he needs to put much more pressure on both sides," the official said.
- Other leaders are attempting to apply pressure. The leaders of the U.K., France and Canada issued a statement on Monday threatening to take steps against Israel over the war in Gaza.
- "We will not stand by while the Netanyahu Government pursues these egregious actions. If Israel does not cease the renewed military offensive and lift its restrictions on humanitarian aid, we will take further concrete actions in response" they said.
- Netanyahu rejected their call and accused "the leaders in London, Ottawa and Paris" of "offering a huge prize for the genocidal attack on Israel on October 7 while inviting more such atrocities."
The latest: The British government announced on Monday that it is suspending free trade deal negotiations with Israel, imposed new sanctions on Israeli settlers involved in attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank and summoned the Israeli ambassador to the Foreign Office in London.
State of play: One area where Trump has put pressure on Netanyahu over the last two weeks is Israel's total freeze on humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza.
- A White House official told Axios the president was upset by pictures of suffering children and babies in Gaza and pressed the Israelis to reopen the gates.
- On Sunday, the Israeli cabinet approved the resumption of aid deliveries to Gaza and on Monday a dozen trucks with baby food and other supplies entered the enclave. The White House official said more needs to be done.
- The UN has warned that thousands of children are at risk of starvation if aid does not significantly increase. More than 55,000 Palestinians have been killed during the war, according to the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza.
Behind the scenes: While Trump felt his Middle East trip was a success, he believes the war in Gaza is holding back his plans for the region, a senior White House official said.
- "The President sees a real chance for peace and prosperity in the region, but the war in Gaza is the last hot spot and he wants it to end," the White House official said.
- The second White House official described the war as a distraction from other things Trump wants to do. "There is a lot of frustration by this crisis getting dragged on."
- The official said Trump's decision to move unilaterally to secure the release of American-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander, rather than waiting for Israel to agree to a broader dael, was a result of this frustration.
What they are saying: "The President may be saying, 'Hey, listen, let's try to end the war,' he might speak strongly… But his support is ironclad," Trump hostage response envoy Adan Boehler told Fox News on Monday. He stressed that a Washington Post report claiming the administration threatened to "abandon" Israel was "fake."
- White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Monday that Trump had "made it very clear to Hamas that he wanted to see all hostages released" and "made it very clear he wants to see this conflict in the region end."
