Washington, DC – The White House says Donald Trump’s “utmost priority” in the Middle East is to end the war in Gaza. But as the United States president hosts Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this week, the two leaders have heaped praise on each other.Meanwhile, Israel continues its assault on the Palestinian territory, where more than 57,575 people have been killed.
Analysts say that if Trump is truly seeking a lasting ceasefire in Gaza, he must leverage US military aid to Israel to pressure Netanyahu to agree to a deal.
Brian Finucane, a senior adviser with the International Crisis Group nonprofit, drew a parallel between Trump’s mixed messaging and that of his predecessor, Joe Biden. Both men, he said, called for a ceasefire but showed unwillingness to press Israel to end the fighting.
“It’s like deja vu with the Biden administration, where you would hear similar pronouncements from the White House,” said Finucane.
“If a ceasefire is indeed the ‘utmost priority’ of the White House, it has the leverage to bring it about.”
The US provides Israel with billions of dollars in military assistance each year, on top of offering it diplomatic backing at international forums like the United Nations.
While US officials expressed optimism about reaching a 60-day truce this week that could lead to a permanent ceasefire, Netanyahu told reporters in Washington, DC, that Israel has “still to finish the job in Gaza” and eliminate the armed group Hamas.
Finucane, a former US State Department lawyer, described Netanyahu’s comments as “maximalist rhetoric” and “bluster”, stressi …
