US President Donald Trump met for the second time in two days with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss Gaza, as Trump’s envoy to the Middle East Steve Whitkovsaid that Israel and Hamas are very close to a ceasefire agreement.

The Israeli leader departed from the White House on Tuesday night after a meeting that lasted just over an hour with Trump at the Oval Office, without access to the media.

At the meeting of the two leaders discussed Efforts to secure the truce in Gaza and the return of Israeli hostages.

According to the Jewish newspaper Israel HayomIt was also discussed how Gaza could look like the “next day” of war with Hamas.

As for Iran, leaders are alleged to have discussed ways to prevent Tehran from restarting its nuclear weapons program after Israel’s and US operation last month.

The two men also met for several hours during a dinner at the White House on Monday, on the plate of Netanyahu’s third visit to the US since the president began his second term on January 20th.

Netanyahu met with Vice President Jay Di Vance and then visited the US Capitol on Tuesday and had a meeting with the Republican Speaker of the House of Representatives Mike Johnson.

“We still have to complete the work in Gaza, release all our hostages, eliminate and destroy Hamas’ military and government capabilities.”Netanyahu told reporters after the meeting.

On Wednesday, the Israeli prime minister is expected to return to Congress to meet with US Senate leaders.

Witkov: Agreement this week

Following Benjamin Metanaahu’s statements, Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Whitkovstated on Tuesday that issues that prevent Israel and Hamas from agreeing have been reduced to a out of four and hopes that the two sides will end up with a temporary ceasefire agreement this week.

“We hope that by the end of this week we will have an agreement that will lead us to a 60 -day truce. The ten living hostages will be released, while the bodies of nine dead will be given to Israel. ” Whitkov told reporters at a Trump cabinet meeting.

A delegation from Qatar, which hosts indirect talks between Israeli negotiators and the Palestinian armed organization Hamas, met with senior White House officials for several hours before Netanyahu’s arrival on Tuesday, he said Tuesday, Axiosciting a source that knows the details.

The war in Gaza broke out when Hamas attacked southern Israel in October 2023, killing about 1,200 people and holding 251 hostages, according to Israeli data. About 50 hostages remain in Gaza, of which 20 are believed to be alive.

The Israeli retaliation war in Gaza has killed more than 57,000 Palestinians, according to the Schlaka Ministry of Health. Most of the Gaza population has been displaced due to the war and nearly half a million people will face famine in the coming months, according to United Nations estimates.

Trump had strongly supported Netanyahu, even intervening in domestic Israeli politics by criticizing prosecutors for a corruption proceedings against the Israeli leader for charges of bribery, fraud and confidence violations.

In his statements to reporters in Congress, USA, Netanyahu praised Trump, saying that there was never closer coordination between the US and Israel in his country’s history.