موقع وجه أفريقيا موقع وجه أفريقيا هو موقع مهتم بمتابعة التطورات في القارة الأفريقية
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Muhamad Yehia
The new US administration, which claims credit for the current ceasefire in Gaza, has called for a permanent end to the war between Israel and Hamas.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will become the first foreign leader to visit the White House during Donald Trump’s second presidential term, it has emerged.
The pair will hold talks in Washington next week, according to a White House letter that was shared by Netanyahu’s office.
“I look forward to discussing how we can bring peace to Israel and its neighbours, and efforts to counter our shared adversaries,” the US president wrote to his Israeli counterpart.
“It will be my honour to host you as my first foreign leader during my second term,” he added.
The visit comes as the Trump administration hopes to exert influence on Israel to bring a permanent end to its war in Gaza.
The conflict began 15 months ago after Hamas killed 1,200 people and kidnapped 251 others in its deadly 7 October attacks. In the ensuing war, Israel has killed more than 47,000 Palestinians, according to the Hamas-run Gazan Health Ministry.
A fragile ceasefire which began on 19 January is currently still holding in Gaza, but Trump has previously said he is “not confident” that it will last.
The US president recently sparked outrage when he suggested that Egypt and Jordan should take take in Palestinians from Gaza, a proposal both countries quickly rejected.
In the first six weeks of the ceasefire agreement, Hamas is expected to release 33 hostages, while Israel is set to free nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. Both sides have already begun this process.
The pause in fighting has allowed more than 375,000 Palestinians to cross back into northern Gaza to what remains of their homes, the United Nations said on Tuesday.
Humanitarian aid flows into Gaza have increased under the ceasefire agreement, which requires 600 aid trucks to enter the territory each day.
“In the past week alone, approximately 4,200 trucks carrying aid have entered the Gaza Strip following inspections,” Israel’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel said.
The second phase of the ceasefire will soon be discussed, including proposals for a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
Netanyahu has already made it clear that Israel will resume its military campaign if Hamas does not meet its demands.
During his visit to Washington, Netanyahu, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes, is expected to urge Trump to take a harder stance on Iran.
The Israeli leader is also likely to call for renewed efforts towards achieving a historic normalisation agreement between his country and Saudi Arabia.
