Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff in Washington on Monday to discuss the second phase of the hostage release deal with Hamas. His visit includes a Tuesday meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House.
Under the ceasefire agreement, negotiations must start by Monday, but Netanyahu has reportedly delayed sending negotiators to Qatar until after his Trump meeting, raising concerns about violating the deal’s terms.
The second phase aims to secure the release of all remaining living hostages, including soldiers and men under 50, in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. However, reports suggest Netanyahu is considering resuming the war rather than advancing the deal, in line with pressure from his far-right coalition members.
Meanwhile, Netanyahu may appoint Minister Ron Dermer as lead negotiator, sidelining Mossad chief David Barnea. The Trump administration reportedly prefers working with Dermer.
During his U.S. visit, Netanyahu will also push for Saudi-Israel normalization, which Trump sees as part of his “Golden Age of Peace” vision for the Middle East, despite Saudi demands for progress toward Palestinian statehood.
