Netanyahu and Trump prioritize hostages as war rages in Gaza

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday his meeting with US President Donald J. Trump had focused on freeing hostages held in Gaza, as Israel continued to pound the Palestinian territory amid efforts to reach a ceasefire.

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Mr. Netanyahu said on X that the leaders also discussed the consequences and possibilities of “the great victory we achieved over Iran,” following an aerial war last month in which the United States joined Israeli attacks on the Islamic Republic’s nuclear sites.

Mr. Netanyahu is making his third US visit since Mr. Trump took office on Jan. 20 and had earlier told reporters that while he did not think Israel’s campaign in the Palestinian enclave was done, negotiators are “certainly working” on a ceasefire.

Mr. Trump met Mr. Netanyahu on Tuesday for the second time in two days to discuss the situation in Gaza, with the president's Middle East envoy indicating that Israel and Hamas were nearing an agreement on a ceasefire deal after 21 months of war.

Hamas official Taher al-Nono told Reuters they were engaged in a “difficult round” of negotiations.

A source familiar with Hamas’ thinking said four days of talks in Doha did not produce any breakthroughs on three main sticking points,

These are the free flow of aid into Gaza, withdrawal lines for Israeli forces and guarantees that negotiations would pave the way to a permanent ceasefire.