Trump Meets Netanyahu at White House as Gaza Peace Plan and U.S. Shutdown Deadline Loom
President Donald Trump met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Monday amid rising global tensions over the war in Gaza and a looming U.S. government shutdown. Standing together at the West Wing entrance, Trump and Netanyahu shook hands and posed with thumbs up before entering the Oval Office. As reporters looked on, Trump said he was “very confident” that a peace deal to end the war in Gaza could be reached “quickly.” “We’re working hard. I think we’re very close,” Trump added, referencing his administration’s proposed 21-point Gaza peace plan. Netanyahu, who has faced mounting international criticism over Israel’s actions in Gaza, smiled but did not respond when asked if he supported the deal. President Trump also spoke by phone with the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, earlier in the day. A Qatari adviser visited the White House ahead of the Netanyahu meeting, signaling Qatar’s continuing role in peace negotiations. Qatar has been central to brokering ceasefire efforts, though its involvement has come under strain after an Israeli airstrike reportedly targeted Hamas leadership in the Gulf state. Sources familiar with the matter say the Qatari engagement is part of a broader push to gain Netanyahu’s support for the proposed U.S.-backed agreement, which aims to end the war and secure the release of hostages still held in Gaza. Meanwhile, Washington faces a domestic crisis as the federal government approaches a shutdown. Congress has until midnight Tuesday to pass a spending bill and avert widespread disruptions to federal operations. Talks are ongoing, but divisions in Congress make the path to resolution uncertain. Trump and Netanyahu are expected to hold a joint press conference later today, where updates on the peace plan and broader U.S.–Israel relations may be revealed. With both international diplomacy and domestic governance hanging in the balance, the stakes in Washington could not be higher.