Netanyahu Touches Down in D.C. as Trump Push for Gaza Ceasefire

Things are getting heated in D.C.! Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu just landed in Washington for a major sit-down with President Donald Trump. The topic on everyone’s mind? Finally putting a stop to the fighting in Gaza, a conflict that’s left thousands dead, families shattered, and the whole world watching.

Before leaving Tel Aviv, Netanyahu told reporters he’s working to make a ceasefire happen, and that Trump’s support could be the game-changer. “We’re working to achieve this deal,” he said, “and I think President Trump can definitely help push it forward.”

He also thanked Trump for having Israel’s back in their recent showdown with Iran, calling it “a great victory over our common enemy.”

But let’s keep it real: while leaders talk peace, Gaza is still under fire. Just this week, another Israeli airstrike killed at least seven Palestinians—women and children included. Hospitals are overflowing, families are picking up the pieces, and the death toll just keeps rising.

Since last October, more than 56,000 Palestinians have lost their lives in Gaza, with thousands more injured. Meanwhile, over 1,200 Israelis were killed in the Hamas attack that sparked this round of violence.

Trump, who’s been trying to broker a deal to end the fighting between Israel and Hamas, is meeting Netanyahu for dinner at the White House. And he’s been telling reporters that a deal is “close.”

Hamas said they’re open to a U.S.-backed ceasefire, on the condition that all hostages are freed and Israeli troops leave Gaza. But Netanyahu isn’t budging: he wants Hamas to surrender, disarm, and go into exile, which the group says is a no-go.

As all this is playing out in D.C., Israeli negotiators are also in Qatar, talking to Hamas through intermediaries. The world’s watching—will this be the breakthrough, or just more political back-and-forth?

And it doesn’t stop there. Israel just launched strikes on Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen, hitting ports and a commercial ship. Israel’s defense forces say they’re targeting Iranian-backed militants who’ve been attacking Israeli interests.

Yemen’s Houthi rebels say their air defenses handled the attack, but Israel’s message is clear: “The fate of Yemen is the same as the fate of Tehran.”

Meanwhile, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei made his first public appearance since the 12-day war with Israel, showing he’s still in play in this high-stakes game.