US President Donald Trump has asked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to end the Gaza war, stop a potential strike on Iran, and focus on the diplomatic efforts to restore peace in the region, reports citing their recent telephonic conversation on Thursday.
The call, which took place on Monday, came after the US and Hamas were engaged in ongoing indirect negotiations aimed at securing a ceasefire, captive release and Israeli army pull-out from the occupied Gaza enclave, which has been devastated in the ongoing Israeli invasion.
Washington also informed Tel Aviv to avoid any unilateral military actions against Iran. Reports later said that Trump described his phone conversation with Netanyahu as very positive, yet tensions between the two leaders have grown in recent weeks over the Gaza conflict.
Trump asked Netanyahu to stop discussing military actions against Iran on public forums, as it could trigger reprehensible consequences in the region.
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In response, Netanyahu has told Trump that he fears that Iran is dragging the process while continuing its enrichment to avoid committing to any genuine deal.
Meanwhile, ceasefire negotiations have shown some movement. Netanyahu convened a meeting of top ministers on Tuesday night after “some progress” was made toward a deal, according to his office.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar also acknowledged recent advances, though he cautioned against premature optimism.
On Thursday, Hamas confirmed it had not rejected the US-proposed deal but sought stronger guarantees against future Israeli attacks.
Further, the rift between the US and Israel appears to be deepening over the Trump administration recently bypassing Israel during a tri-nation tour to the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
Before arriving in the Middle East, Trump secured a ceasefire deal with the Houthis in Yemen and lifted sanctions on Syria – moves that have drawn criticism from Israeli officials.
US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee told reporters that the two-state solution is no longer a goal of US policy, citing cultural and political realities.
Earlier in the war, Trump had floated the idea of a “Gaza Riviera” under US control, which would involve the relocation of a large portion of the Palestinian population from the coastal strip.
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