Summary
- Trump believes Netanyahu prolongs Gaza war for power.
- The US sees Israel’s war goals achieved long ago.
- Trump frustrated by failed ceasefire, aid delays in Gaza.
- Envoy Witkoff assessing Gaza aid amid humanitarian crisis.
- Despite tensions, no major US policy shift was expected.
Trump and many of his advisors are more eager than ever to end the fighting in Gaza, according to the Thursday story, which was based on many unidentified sources. This is because Israel's actions throughout the war have been widely condemned, even by a rising number of isolationists in the Republican Party.
The American president has apparently grown convinced that Israel has long since accomplished its military goals in Gaza and that the continued fighting is mostly driven by the premier's political interests, since negotiations for a ceasefire and hostage agreement are once again encountering significant obstacles.
The report was released during a meeting between Netanyahu and Trump's Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff in Jerusalem on Thursday afternoon to talk about the deadlocked talks between Israel and Hamas.
During his trip, Witkoff was also scheduled to make a rare stop in Gaza to tour aid distribution centers operated by the US-Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, whose activities have provoked significant international criticism in recent months due to almost daily reports of Israeli troops carrying out fatal shootings at their locations.
Israel claims the number is inflated, but the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry reports that Israeli fire has killed over 1,000 individuals close GHF locations.
According to two US officials who talked to The Atlantic, Trump gave Witkoff the responsibility of developing his own evaluation of Gaza's humanitarian condition and the GHF's feasibility as a distributor of aid.
According to reports, Trump advisors have also talked about pressuring Israel to expand the amount of food and other supplies it permits to enter the Strip so that enough will reach people, even if some are stolen by Hamas, as Israel says has repeatedly occurred.
The statements were a shift from some of his previous remarks about Gaza's food shortages, where he resisted the Israeli stance, such as at a press conference on Tuesday with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Trump said, "Based on television, not particularly, because those children look very hungry," in response to a question about whether he was persuaded by Netanyahu's assertion that there is no starving in Gaza.
The source claims that Trump is not just driven by humanitarian concerns to put an end to the violence but has also been irate by his repeated inability to fulfill campaign pledges, including establishing peace in the Middle East.
With the Abraham Accords, which restored relations between Israel and numerous Arab nations, the US president aimed to carry on the legacy he established during his first term and continue to promote peace in the area.
Earlier in July, Greene's attempt to stop US financing for Israel's Iron Dome missile defense system was defeated 422–6, demonstrating her continued isolation with Republican lawmakers. The change has primarily taken place outside of the corridors of power, especially among young people on the right in America.
According to a CNN poll this month, just 52% of Republicans now think that Israel's actions are entirely justifiable, down from 68% in 2023.
According to a Pew Research study conducted in April, Republicans over 50 have remained steadfastly pro-Israel since 2022, but at the same period, Republican young persons' disapproval of the Jewish state increased from 35% to 50%.
Both a Netanyahu spokeswoman and a White House official denied The Atlantic's request for comment.
What evidence supports Trump's belief about Netanyahu's political motives in Gaza?
Trump reportedly believes Netanyahu is undermining ceasefire negotiations in Gaza, which are crucial to stabilizing the region and encouraging economic recovery. This has been reported by two unnamed Trump administration officials to The Atlantic, who say that Netanyahu's positions are frustrating US hopes for peace and humanitarian relief.
Analysis from sources such as Chatham House indicates Netanyahu’s strategy is focused on maintaining his right-wing coalition and avoiding early elections amid poor polling performance. His promise of “total victory” allows the indefinite continuation of war, justifying ongoing military action and preventing political fallout.
Netanyahu resists political solutions involving the Palestinian Authority, effectively enabling Hamas control of Gaza to continue as a pretext for prolonging fighting.