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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu left for Washington on Sunday morning to meet US President Donald Trump, making him the first world leader to visit the new American administration.
The visit is the leader's first international trip since the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant against him in November for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Before leaving Israel, Mr Netanyahu said his meetings with the President “will deal with important, critical issues facing Israel and the region: victory over Hamas, achieving the release of all our hostages and dealing with the Iranian terror axis in all its aspects”.
Being the first foreign leader to meet Mr Trump since the latter's return to the White House showed “the strength of the Israeli-American alliance”, said Mr Netanyahu, as well as their “personal friendship”.
The visit comes at a critical time for the Middle East, during which the US-Israeli relations will be pivotal in shaping the region, which has been upturned by the Gaza war.
Pressure is also increasing on the Israeli leader to sustain a ceasefire-hostage deal struck with Hamas in January that has so far seen four exchanges of Israeli hostages for Palestinian detainees.
Polling suggests that the majority of Israelis favour the government prioritising the release of hostages over continuing fighting in Gaza, but far-right ministers in Mr Netanyahu’s government are bitterly opposed to the deal, saying it endangers national security, ends the war before Israel achieves objectives in Gaza and stops the dream of resettling the strip.
Mr Netanyahu also faces pressure from Mr Trump, who is widely believed to be in support of maintaining the deal. Before coming into office, the president warned that there would be “all hell to pay” if Israeli hostages were not returned before his inauguration.
According to the timeline of the deal, currently in its first of three phases, parties are supposed to start negotiating to prepare for the second phase of the deal, during which Israel and Hamas are supposed to work towards a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.
Despite a potential conflict over the future of the deal, Mr Trump is widely viewed to be sympathetic to causes championed by the Israeli right, particularly expanding illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank and possibly annexing the entire region itself. Mr Trump has appointed senior officials who openly support such moves.
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, one of the main opponents of the hostage deal, called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to use his upcoming meeting with Mr Trump to “strengthen [Israel’s] grip and sovereignty” over the occupied West Bank.
Mr Smotrich, who along with many Israelis celebrated the victory of Mr Trump, described him as “a lover of Israel”. In his previous term in office, Mr Trump recognised Israeli sovereignty over occupied East Jerusalem and the occupied Golan Heights.
