Public Dispute Erupts Between Israel and US Over Netanyahu-Trump Meeting on Gaza

A public disagreement has emerged between Israel and the United States regarding the content of a recent meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump. Israeli officials insist that the Gaza Strip was not discussed during the talks, emphasizing Israel's uncompromising demand for the complete disarmament of Hamas as a prerequisite for any political arrangement. They stressed that the so-called "15-point document" does not adequately address these demands and that Israel has already communicated detailed objections to Tony Blair, the envoy involved in the process. Furthermore, Israel made clear that the Israel Defense Forces will not withdraw from the "yellow line" in Gaza until Hamas is fully disarmed and the area is demilitarized.

In contrast, American officials have presented a different account. A senior US official told N12 that Gaza was indeed a central topic in the Netanyahu-Trump meeting. The US special envoy, Jason Greenblatt, reportedly provided a detailed briefing on the progress of negotiations with Hamas regarding the demilitarization of Gaza. However, the US official clarified that Israel is not currently expected to retreat from the "yellow line" in Gaza. This public divergence highlights ongoing tensions between Jerusalem and Washington over the approach to Gaza and Hamas amid broader peace efforts.