US President Donald Trump hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Monday after exerting intense pressure on him in recent days.

Trump said during the meeting that he was “very confident” about reaching an agreement on Gaza.

On Sunday, Trump wrote on his Truth Social network, “We have a real chance to achieve something great in the Middle East,” adding, “Everyone is ready for something remarkable, it’s unprecedented. And we will achieve it.”

Trump expects “both sides” to accept Washington’s new plan, spokeswoman Caroline Leavitt said Monday during a press briefing.

In an interview with Fox News, she said, “Both sides will have to make some concessions to achieve this.”

This is Netanyahu’s fourth visit to the White House since Trump’s return to power in January. They were scheduled to hold a joint press conference Monday at 17:15 GMT.

Over the past nine months, Trump’s steadfast support for Israel has not wavered, but his ideas to end the conflict that erupted on October 7, 2023, have varied greatly and have not always aligned with his guest’s views.

The Israeli prime minister continues to hold firm positions but faces international isolation and protests in Israel calling for an end to the war and the return of hostages.

Families of Israeli hostages urged the US president to stick to the plan he proposed to end the Gaza war.

An open letter from the Hostages and Missing Families Forum to Trump stated, “We respectfully ask you to stand firmly against any attempts to obstruct the agreement you have presented.”

In Gaza, where devastation has settled after nearly two years of war, some do not expect any breakthrough from this meeting.

Mohammed Abu Rabie, 34, living in the Shati refugee camp, told AFP, “I do not expect anything from Trump because Trump supports Netanyahu in destroying Gaza Strip and displacing people.”

Sabah Al-Jadili, 40, who moved to Al-Falah school for displaced people in the Zeitoun neighborhood, said, “If Trump wanted to solve the crisis, he would have done so,” noting, “The plan is excellent. For us in Gaza, the important thing is to stop the war; we do not care about the details, nor who governs Gaza afterward. We want to live.” She expressed hope that “Trump will work to force Netanyahu and Hamas to resolve the conflict.”

The latest US proposal, previously presented by Trump to Netanyahu by phone and to several Arab leaders in person, aims to establish peace in the Palestinian territory that has been reduced to rubble due to the Israeli attack.

On Friday, Trump told reporters in Washington, “I think we have an agreement” to end the war in Gaza and release hostages held by Hamas.

Almost simultaneously, Netanyahu delivered a high-profile speech at the United Nations General Assembly on Friday, stating that the establishment of a Palestinian state would be “suicide” for the Israeli state, promising to “achieve” the elimination of Hamas.

According to a diplomatic source, the US plan, consisting of 21 points, includes a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, the release of Israeli hostages, Israeli withdrawal, and future governance of Gaza without Hamas.

According to The Times of Israel and the American news site Axios, the Israeli withdrawal will occur in phases, and hostages will be released within 48 hours of the ceasefire. In return, Israel will release over a thousand Palestinian prisoners, including those serving life sentences.

British media reported that former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who served as a Middle East peace mediator from 2007 to 2025, may play a leading role in the transitional authority in Gaza under the US plan.

This body will operate under the name “International Temporary Authority in Gaza,” supported by the United Nations and Gulf countries before handing over governance to a Palestinian authority that has undergone extensive reform.

On Sunday, the Israeli prime minister expressed doubts about the feasibility of reforming the Palestinian Authority, questioning in a Fox News interview the “credibility or likelihood… that the Palestinian Authority will completely change and become a body that accepts a Jewish state and teaches its children coexistence and friendship with the Jewish state instead of spending their lives trying to destroy it,” admitting, “I do not think that will happen.”

Experts say Netanyahu cannot afford to upset his sole main ally.

Nathan Sachs from the Washington Institute for Near East Policy said, “Netanyahu has a clear preference to continue the war and defeat Hamas, but I do not think it would be impossible for Trump to convince him otherwise.”

However, this would be conditional on Washington defending a very clear vision in a disciplined and consistent manner, which represents a real challenge for the American president known for his highly volatile geopolitical orientations, the researcher noted.

He added that the 79-year-old Republican president is known to be influenced by the last person he talks to, especially if that person is persuasive, and Netanyahu is very skilled at convincing Trump.

For example, when the Israeli prime minister visited the White House in July, the American president was very pleased by Netanyahu’s announcement of his nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Last week, Trump warned against annexation while some ministers in Netanyahu’s government were advocating for this step in response to Western countries recognizing the State of Palestine.

Trump said on Thursday, “I will not allow Israel to annex the West Bank. No, I will not allow it. That will not happen.”

Nathan Sachs pointed out that the implications of this are not easy for the Israeli prime minister.

The public pressure Trump exerts could complicate Netanyahu’s position within his ruling coalition. But this firm rejection from a US president popular among the Israeli right-wing may also provide him, according to the researcher, an “exit” from annexation demands.

Before the anticipated meeting between Netanyahu and Trump, far-right Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich on Monday emphasized the need for the army to maintain “full freedom to conduct operations” in Gaza. He also expressed rejection of any future role for Qatar in the Strip.

The Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, mostly civilians, according to AFP’s count based on official Israeli figures.