Netanyahu heads to D.C. for Trump meeting as next phase of negotiations set to resume
February 2, 2025 / 10:47 AM EST / CBS/AP
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is on his way to the United States for a pivotal meeting with President Trump during which they are expected to discuss "victory over Hamas" and expanding diplomatic relations with Arab countries.
The meeting Tuesday at the White House will be Mr. Trump's first with a foreign leader since returning to office on Jan. 20. It comes as the fragile truce between Israel and Hamas in Gaza holds and mediators begin the daunting work of brokering the next phase of the agreement.
Hamas, which has quickly reasserted its control over Gaza since the ceasefire took hold last month, is expected to free a total of 33 Israeli hostages during the first, six-week phase of the ceasefire and hostage release deal, which took effect on Jan. 19. After the release on Saturday, 18 have been freed so far.
The militant group has said it will not release the hostages slated to go free in the second phase without an end to the war and the full withdrawal of Israeli forces.
In a statement released ahead of his departure on Sunday, Netanyahu said he and Mr. Trump would discuss "victory over Hamas, achieving the release of all our hostages and dealing with the Iranian terror axis in all its components," referring to Iran's alliance of militant groups across the region, including Hamas.