Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former U.S. President Donald Trump held a phone call Tuesday, discussing several major issues, including Iran’s nuclear program and efforts to broker a hostage deal with Hamas, according to U.S. and Israeli reports.
Trump said the call went “very well,” and that he and Netanyahu are “on the same side of every issue,” though he did not initially mention Gaza or the 59 hostages held there. However, sources later confirmed that hostage negotiations were part of the conversation. Netanyahu reposted Trump’s message, thanking him publicly.
This marks their first known call since a White House meeting two weeks earlier, during which Netanyahu learned that the U.S. had already decided to enter renewed nuclear talks with Iran—prompting concerns in Israel over the terms being discussed. Netanyahu has stated that Israel only supports negotiations that lead to full dismantling of Iran’s nuclear capabilities.
Recent reports indicate Trump blocked an Israeli proposal for joint military strikes on Iran, preferring diplomacy. Ongoing indirect talks between the U.S. and Iran have been held in Muscat and Rome, with a third round set for April 26.
The call came during an Israeli security cabinet meeting, where only half the ministers reportedly attended. Topics included Iran and the possibility of expanding the Gaza military campaign.
Meanwhile, families of Israeli hostages held a press conference urging the government to prioritize negotiations over Independence Day celebrations. “We must not celebrate as if we have complete independence,” one family member said.
Trump is scheduled to visit Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE in mid-May but has not confirmed a stop in Israel. He reiterated his stance that Hamas must not play any role in post-war Gaza governance.
