Netanyahu meets with Trump amid international isolation to discuss the future of Gaza.

WashingtonAfter the Bad taste in the mouth at the UN General AssemblyIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visits the White House on Monday to receive a warmer welcome from his partner, President Donald Trump. The Israeli's fourth visit to Washington comes just seven months after that first meeting, in which the American announced plans to turn Gaza into a tourist resort. In that time, Israel's international isolation has increased, as has the genocide in the Strip, where Tel Aviv has already killed more than 66,000 PalestiniansNetanyahu meets again with Trump amid rumors of a possible agreement to end a war that is about to turn two years old.

The possibility of an end to hostilities is in the air, although at the UN Netanyahu made it explicit that he must "finish the job." in Gaza and does not intend to accept the existence of a Palestinian state. He spoke these words before a practically empty Assembly, where his delegation tried to fill with applause the seats that the rest of the countries had left empty as a symbol of protest. The Israeli's words contrasted with those of Trump, who shortly before had assured that "there could be an agreement" and that "there will be peace." Even the Republican said on Thursday that he would not allow Israel to annex the West Bank, although Tel Aviv has different plans: "I will not allow Israel to annex the West Bank. It's time for this to end."

Since that moment of visible disagreement, the diplomatic machinery has continued working over the weekend to try to bring Netanyahu closer to the president's 21-point plan to end the conflict, establish a post-war governing mechanism, and return the 48 Israeli hostages home. Special envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, met with the Israeli prime minister on Sunday at the hotel where he is staying in Washington. The meeting, which lasted about two hours, according to Times of Israel, Witkoff wanted to get Netanyahu to support Trump's plan, despite the Israeli prime minister's reluctance regarding the role of the Palestinian Authority and the disarmament of Hamas.

According to the Israeli media outlet, Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law, also participated in the meeting. Kushner owns a real estate company and has repeatedly commented on the business opportunity he sees in the Strip once the war is over. In a conversation in March, he emphasized the "valuable" nature of Gaza's waterfront land.

Several Israeli media outlets report that Sunday's meeting went well and that Netanyahu would be inclined to close the deal, although he may still introduce changes. This is distressing to the United States, which wants to maintain the support of Arab countries in post-war Palestine. While for the Arabs, recognition of the Palestinian state is essential, for Israel it is a red line. The other is the role the Palestinian Authority will play in Gaza after the war.

The role of Hamas

In his televised address to the UN, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas stated that the Palestinian Authority is "ready to take over" governance of Gaza and promised that Hamas will have no role in the government. Abbas called on the Islamist group to hand over its weapons and said that they do not want "an armed state." Despite Abbas's words, Trump's plan would include a transitional government before the Palestinian Authority regained control. Last week, US and British media revealed that the White House is considering former British Prime Minister Tony Blair to take over the transitional government. The Labour Party would lead an interim international administration in the Palestinian territory, with the support of the UN and the Gulf states, before returning the Strip to Palestinian control.

The plan would also presumably have been discussed with Arab leaders within the framework of the UN. On Tuesday, Trump met with the leaders of eight Arab and Muslim countries and, according to reports, Political, reportedly presented his plan to end the war. Representatives from Qatar, Jordan, Turkey, Pakistan, Indonesia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia were present at the meeting.

The talks, however, have not reached Hamas. The Islamist group said on Sunday that it had not received "any official proposal through Egyptian and Qatari mediators." It also stressed that ending the war is "an essential requirement," as is the withdrawal of the Israeli army from Gaza.

Although the United States wants to maintain the support of Arab countries, especially Doha as a mediator with Hamas, Israel is reportedly pushing to limit Qatar's role in post-war Gaza, amid the deterioration of ties between the two countries. In early September, in an unprecedented gesture, Tel Aviv attacked the Arab country under the pretext of eliminating the Hamas leaders who were in power at the time.