US President Donald Trump hosted Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for a private dinner at the White House on Monday. He said the United States had scheduled talks with Iran and had seen good cooperation with Israel’s neighbours on helping Palestinians. This marks their third meeting this year, held amid growing pressure over Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza and the unresolved hostage crisis.

Speaking to reporters at the beginning of a dinner between US and Israeli officials, Netanyahu said the United States and Israel were working with other countries who would give Palestinians a “better future,” suggesting that the residents of Gaza could move to neighbouring nations.

“If people want to stay, they can stay, but if they want to leave, they should be able to leave,” Netanyahu said.

“We’re working with the United States very closely about finding countries that will seek to realise what they always say, that they wanted to give the Palestinians a better future. I think we’re getting close to finding several countries.”

Trump and Netanyahu met in Washington while Israeli officials engaged in indirect talks with Hamas to secure a ceasefire and hostage-release agreement mediated by the United States. The first round of talks ended without agreement.

Netanyahu said that Israel and the US are “getting close to finding several countries” who will take in Palestinians who would like to leave the war-torn Gaza Strip.

“I think President Trump had a brilliant vision. It’s called free choice. If people want to stay, they can stay; but if they want to leave, they should be able to leave,” Netanyahu said.

In response, Trump said that he has had “great cooperation from surrounding countries on the matter. Something good will happen.”

TRUMP HINTS AT EASING SANCTIONS ON TEHRAN

Trump told reporters that lifting US sanctions on Syria would help that nation progress and that he hoped Iran could follow suit.

“I would love to be able to, at the right time, take those sanctions off, give them a chance at rebuilding, because I’d like to see Iran build itself back up in a peaceful manner, and not going around saying, ‘death to America,’ ‘death to the USA,’ ‘death to Israel,’ as they were doing,” he said.

The meeting comes at a moment when families of hostages held by Hamas are urging both leaders to ensure that any future ceasefire agreement includes the release of all remaining captives.

Netanyahu also nominated Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize. He handed an official nomination letter to Trump, saying, “It’s the nomination of you for the peace prize, which is well-deserved. And you should get it.”

Earlier, Netanyahu held separate meetings with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Trump special envoy Steve Witkoff, according to the prime minister’s office. The talks were held at Blair House, the presidential guest house near the White House.

Netanyahu’s visit follows Trump’s prediction, on the eve of their meeting, that such an agreement could be reached this week. Before heading to Washington, the right-wing Israeli leader said his discussions with Trump could help advance negotiations under way in Qatar between Israel and the Palestinian militant group.

– Ends

With inputs from Reuters

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