US President Donald Trump greets Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as he arrives at the West Wing of the White House in Washington, DC on September 29, 2025. SAUL LOEB / AFP
US President Donald Trump was upbeat about the chances of a Gaza deal on Monday, September 29, as he hosted Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House to push the Israeli prime minister to accept his peace plan. "I am, I'm very confident," Trump told reporters as he greeted Netanyahu when asked if he was confident there would be peace in Gaza. He repeated "very confident" when asked if all parties were on board with the 21-point plan to end the nearly two-year war, free hostages held by Hamas and disarm the Palestinian militants.
The US president met key Arab leaders at the United Nations last week and said Sunday on social media that "ALL ARE ON BOARD FOR SOMETHING SPECIAL, FIRST TIME EVER." But Netanyahu has given little reason for optimism, vowing in a defiant UN speech Friday to "finish the job" against Hamas and rejecting Palestinian statehood – recently recognized by several Western nations.
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Isolated at the UN, Netanyahu defies the international community
