Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu plans to discuss “Gaza, the hostages, dealing with all components of the Iranian axis and other main issues” next week when he meets at the White House with President Donald Trump.
The prime minister will be the first national leader with whom Trump meets following his inauguration.
Netanyahu is slated to depart on Sunday morning for his meeting with US President Donald Trump.
Netanyahu spoke Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff on Saturday night following the conclusion of Shabbat.
According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, the two “agreed that the negotiations on the second stage of the hostages deal will begin at their meeting in Washington this Monday, the 16th day of the agreement, within the framework of which they will discuss the Israeli positions.”
Later in the week, Witkoff will speak with the Prime Minister of Qatar and senior Egyptian representatives, the PMO said, adding that Witkoff “will then discuss with the prime minister steps to advance the negotiations, including dates for the departure of delegations to the talks.”
Dual Israeli-US citizen Keith Siegel, a native of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, was finally freed from Hamas captivity together earlier in the day on Saturday, along with two other hostages, Ofer Calderon and Yarden Bibas.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt released a statement in response to the news, saying, “Americans celebrate the return of American-Israeli citizen Keith Siegel and two Israelis who were held captive by Hamas terrorists since October 7, 2023.
“President Trump and his administration have worked diligently to secure their release and are committed to freeing all remaining hostages,” she said.
Trump told to reporters this past Thursday that Egypt and Jordan will accept displaced Gazans — that, despite both countries immediately rejecting the plan outright.
“They will do it,” Trump said during the presser in the Oval Office when a reporter asked about the Egyptian and Jordanian response.
“They’re going to do it. We do a lot for them, and they’re going to do it.”
