In a recent phone call that carried the weight of urgency and diplomacy, former U.S. President Donald Trump directly urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to step back—from both the ongoing war in Gaza and any whispers of a potential military strike on Iran.
According to CNN, the conversation took place on Monday and comes at a time when indirect ceasefire talks are inching forward between Hamas and the U.S., while Washington also navigates a delicate dance with Tehran over nuclear negotiations.
Although Trump later described the call as “very well, very smooth,” sources close to the matter paint a more complex picture. Tensions between the two leaders have been simmering over the past several weeks, primarily due to the escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza and rising fears of broader conflict in the region.
Trump reportedly asked Netanyahu to stop public chatter about attacking Iran and to clamp down on leaks regarding Israel’s military plans. Netanyahu, however, pushed back—arguing that Iran is dragging its feet through negotiations and isn’t genuinely interested in reaching a resolution.
Back in Jerusalem, signs of possible progress in the ceasefire talks are beginning to show. Netanyahu called an emergency meeting with senior ministers on Tuesday night after what his office called “some progress” toward a deal. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar acknowledged the developments but warned that expectations should remain grounded.
Meanwhile, Hamas has clarified that it hasn’t rejected the latest U.S. proposal. Instead, it’s asking for stronger guarantees to prevent future Israeli military operations.
Behind the scenes, the rift between the U.S. and Israel is becoming harder to ignore. The Trump administration has taken actions that have irked Israeli officials—skipping Israel on a recent regional tour, lifting sanctions on Syria, and making overtures to Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis, despite continued missile threats to Israel.
Trump is also focused on expanding the Abraham Accords, hoping to bring Saudi Arabia into the fold. But Riyadh has been clear: there will be no normalization with Israel without tangible steps toward Palestinian statehood.
And in yet another twist, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee told Bloomberg that the two-state solution is no longer a part of official U.S. policy—a shift that has sparked debate in diplomatic circles.
Earlier in the war, Trump floated a controversial idea: turning Gaza into a “Gaza Riviera” under U.S. oversight, which would involve relocating a significant portion of the Palestinian population—an idea that was widely criticized as unrealistic and deeply insensitive.
As ceasefire efforts continue, one thing is clear: the human toll in Gaza, the political tension in Israel, and the complex U.S. role in the Middle East have created a volatile mix that demands not only diplomacy—but humanity.
