Trump to satisfy with Netanyahu at White Home amid Israel’s elevated offensive in Gaza, tariffs

President Trump will meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the White Home on Monday, a number of individuals aware of the assembly confirmed to CBS Information on Saturday.

The leaders are anticipated to concentrate on the newest Israeli navy operations in Gaza and new U.S. tariffs introduced by Mr. Trump in opposition to Israel and different nations.   

Netanyahu’s workplace later confirmed in an announcement that he had acquired an invite from Mr. Trump and can fly to the U.S. Sunday, saying the 2 leaders may also focus on “Israeli-Turkish relations, the Iranian menace, and the combat on the Worldwide Legal Courtroom.”

“The Prime Minister appreciates the private and heat relationship with President Trump, and thanks him for inviting him to be the primary chief to satisfy with him after the imposition of world tariffs, simply as he was the primary chief to satisfy with him after coming into the White Home,” the assertion learn.

This could be their second assembly of Mr. Trump’s second time period. The 2 final met in Washington, D.C. in February, when Mr. Trump unveiled his plan for the U.S. to “take over Gaza” and switch it into “the Riviera of the Center East.”

The assembly by the 2 leaders comes amid a stepped-up offensive in Gaza that the Israeli navy stated is geared toward placing strain on Hamas to launch the remaining hostages and, ultimately, expel the militant group.

Israel declares new corridors 

In the meantime, Israel says it has deployed troops to a newly established safety hall throughout Southern Gaza. Netanyahu introduced the brand new Morag Hall on Saturday and instructed it might lower off the southern metropolis of Rafah, which Israel has ordered evacuated, from the remainder of Gaza. 

A navy assertion Saturday stated troops with the thirty sixth Division had been deployed within the hall. It was not instantly clear what number of had deployed or the place precisely the hall was situated. Morag is the title of a Jewish settlement that when stood between Rafah and Khan Younis, and Netanyahu instructed it might run between the cities.

Maps printed by Israeli media confirmed the brand new hall working the width of the slim coastal strip from east to west.

Netanyahu stated it might be “a second Philadelphi hall,” referring to the Gaza facet of the border with Egypt additional south, which has been below Israeli management since final Might.

Israel has additionally reasserted management over the Netzarim hall that cuts off the northern third of Gaza, together with Gaza Metropolis, from the remainder of the strip. The Philadelphi and Netzarim corridors run from the Israeli border to the Mediterranean Sea.

Hamas says state of affairs is “extremely harmful” for hostages 

Hamas, which had lengthy been designated a terrorist group by Israel and the U.S. even earlier than it carried out the brutal Oct. 7, 2023 assault on Israel that sparked the struggle in Gaza, stated Friday that Israel’s ongoing offensive in Gaza was making a “extremely harmful” state of affairs for the hostages nonetheless held there. It warned that half of the dwelling captives have been in areas the place the Israeli military had ordered evacuations.

“Half of the dwelling Israeli (hostages) are situated in areas that the Israeli occupation military has requested to be evacuated in current days,” Abu Obeida, spokesman for Hamas’s armed wing, stated in an announcement, AFP reported. “We now have determined to not switch these (hostages)… however (this example) is very harmful to their lives.”

Hamas says it can solely launch the remaining 59 hostages — 24 of whom are believed to be alive — in trade for the discharge of extra Palestinian prisoners, a long-lasting ceasefire and an Israeli pullout from Gaza. The group has rejected calls for that it lay down its arms or depart the territory.

Israel has issued sweeping evacuation orders for elements of northern Gaza forward of anticipated expansions in its floor operations. The U.N. humanitarian workplace stated round 280,000 Palestinians have been displaced since Israel abruptly ended a ceasefire with Hamas final month that had been brokered by the U.S., Egypt and Qatar.

To strain Hamas, Israel has imposed a monthlong blockade on meals, gasoline and humanitarian help that has left civilians going through acute shortages as provides dwindle — a tactic that rights teams say is a struggle crime. Israel stated earlier this week that sufficient meals had entered Gaza throughout a six-week truce to maintain the territory’s roughly 2 million Palestinians for a very long time.

The struggle started when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing round 1,200 individuals, principally civilians, and taking 251 hostages, most of whom have since been launched in ceasefire agreements and different offers. Israel rescued eight dwelling hostages and has recovered dozens of our bodies.

Greater than 50,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza as a part of Israel’s offensive, in keeping with Gaza’s Well being Ministry, which does not say whether or not these killed are civilians or combatants. The ministry says greater than half of these killed have been ladies and youngsters. Israel says it has killed round 20,000 militants, with out offering proof.

contributed to this report.