Private Dinner Scheduled at the White House
US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a private meeting at the White House on the 7th (local time) to discuss Middle East issues, including a ceasefire proposal for the Gaza Strip.
US President Donald Trump (left) and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Photo by Reuters and Yonhap News Agency
White House spokesperson Caroline Levitt stated during a briefing that day, "President Trump will have dinner with Prime Minister Netanyahu to discuss the ongoing positive developments in the Middle East." She added, "A ceasefire proposal supported by Israel has been delivered to Hamas, and we hope they will accept the proposal." She also emphasized, "The release of all hostages is the President's top priority." Levitt further noted that Steve Witkoff, the special envoy for Middle East affairs, will travel to Doha, Qatar later this week to continue the remaining discussions.
When asked by reporters whether the reason President Trump is having a private dinner with Prime Minister Netanyahu instead of an official meeting in the Oval Office reflects the sensitivity of the issues being discussed, spokesperson Levitt denied this, saying "No," but did not provide any other specific reasons.
This is Prime Minister Netanyahu's third visit to the United States since the start of President Trump's second term. Netanyahu, who arrived in Washington, D.C. the previous night, is scheduled to meet with Special Envoy Witkoff and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to discuss pending issues before his meeting with President Trump. Before departing Israel, Prime Minister Netanyahu stated, "The meeting with President Trump will help advance the (ceasefire) negotiations."
Delegations from Israel and Hamas began indirect ceasefire negotiations in Doha, Qatar the previous day, but were unable to narrow their differences, ending the first round of talks without reaching a conclusion.
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