Middle East Crisis Gaza War

Trump Meets Netanyahu: “Resolved Three Issues Immediately”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is currently visiting Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago in Florida. During a press conference, Trump says he wants to begin the second phase of the ceasefire in Gaza as soon as possible, according to several media outlets.

“But Hamas must be disarmed,” he adds.

Ahead of the meeting, Hamas’ armed wing, the Qassam Brigades, announced that they do not intend to lay down their arms, which is a prerequisite for the second phase.

Trump also claims that he and Netanyahu resolved three difficult issues regarding Gaza in the first five minutes of the meeting, without going into details.

He also says that he spoke with Israeli President Isaac Herzog and that he said that Netanyahu should be pardoned for the corruption charges.

The Israeli presidential office immediately responded that no such conversation had taken place, writes Reuters.

Netanyahu: Trump to receive Israel's finest award

Benjamin Netanyahu and Donald Trump have had a "very, very productive" meeting at Mar-a-Lago, the Israeli prime minister says at a press conference according to Sky News.

He says Trump should be awarded the Israel Prize, the country's highest civilian award that has never before been given to a foreign citizen, "for his enormous contributions to Israel and the Jewish people."

Trump says he and Netanyahu agree on most things, except for the issue of settler violence in the West Bank. He adds that Hamas must lay down its weapons in the near future or pay the price, and warns Iran not to build up its weapons capability.

- If they do, we will have no choice but to destroy it, he says, but adds that he does not want to "waste fuel" on sending American bombers again.