Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing intense pressure from Washington as he prepares for a high-stakes Oval Office meeting with Donald Trump. The US president is pushing Netanyahu to accept his new 21-point plan to end the Gaza war, a move officials say could define both men’s political futures.
White House spokeswoman Caroline Levitt said Trump was convinced “this plan is the best the parties can get” and that he wanted the war brought to a close. The president is due to speak with Qatar’s emir ahead of the meeting, amid claims from Arab officials that Washington amended the agreement to reflect Israeli demands.
Sources close to the talks say Netanyahu’s choice is now binary: accept Trump’s framework or risk a public split with his closest ally since returning to office. “Everybody and I mean everybody is exhausted of Bibi,” one senior administration official said.
Trump has told Israeli media the plan is in its “final stages” and that Netanyahu backs it, though the prime minister’s public comments remain cautious. Negotiations over the weekend between Netanyahu, Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff and adviser Jared Kushner reportedly narrowed the gaps, raising expectations of a joint announcement.
The plan is said to include the release of hostages, the freeing of Palestinian prisoners, an immediate ceasefire, and a pathway to future Palestinian statehood elements Netanyahu has so far resisted. US officials argue that if he blocks it, he risks being blamed for prolonging the war, empowering Hamas and deepening Gaza’s humanitarian crisis.
Frustration within Trump’s circle has been building for months, with advisers accusing Netanyahu of prioritising political survival and his ongoing trial over strategic decisions. His failed strike in Qatar, which united Gulf states against Israel, was cited as a turning point.
The Israeli leader has also drawn criticism in Washington for wading into US domestic politics. At the UN last week, Netanyahu urged conservative influencers to back Israel online and attacked right-wing critics, including Tucker Carlson. A White House official said the behaviour was “obsessive and bizarre”, adding: “Focus on Israel. Focus on Gaza. Stop getting involved in the domestic politics of the United States.”
The Oval Office meeting is expected to determine whether Netanyahu will align with Trump’s push for peace or remain tied to his far-right coalition partners demanding a continuation of the war.