Prime Minister Netanyahu Calls Meeting With President Trump Focuses On Efforts To Release Hostages In Gaza

US President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu in the Oval Room of the White House. (Twitter/@IsraeliPM)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the rescue of hostages still in the Gaza Strip, Palestine was the focus of his meeting with United States President Donald Trump at the building Tuesday night local time.

During the meeting, US President Trump was accompanied by Vice President JD Vance while speaking with PM Netanyahu.

"We will not give up for a second, and this may be due to military pressure exerted by our heroic soldiers," he said in a video recorded at the Blair House.

"Unfortunately, this effort demands a high price from us, with the loss of our best sons," said PM Netanyahu.

PM Netanyahu further stressed that Israel is determined to achieve all its goals in Gaza, "the release of all our hostages, both alive and dead; the removal of military capabilities and the Hamas government; and ensuring Gaza is no longer a threat to Israel."

"We still have to finish work in Gaza, free all our hostages, eliminate and destroy the capabilities of the Hamas military and government," Prime Minister Netanyahu said.

Israel Hayom reported that the meeting of President Trump, Vice President Vance, and PM Netanyahu was held in the Oval Room, White House, Washington.

The three of them also discussed "implications and possibilities" of operations carried out by Israel and the US against Iran, Prime Minister Netanyahu said.

"The opportunity is open here to expand the circle of peace, expanding the Abrahamic Agreement," he said.

"We are working on this with great enthusiasm," he said.

They also discussed what Gaza would look like the "day after" war with Hamas, according to the Hebrew newspaper.

It is known that the latest conflict in Gaza broke out after a Palestinian militant group attacked Israel's southern region on October 7, 2023, leaving 1,200 people dead and 251 others held hostage according to Israeli calculations.

Israel responded to this by blocking, airstrikes and military operations in the Gaza Strip region.

Israel and the Palestinian militant group agreed to a ceasefire and exchange of hostages and detainees on January 19.

At least 20 of the remaining 50 hostages in Gaza are believed to be still alive. The majority of the initial hostages have been released through diplomatic negotiations, although the Israeli military has also released several hostages.

On March 2, Israel again carried out a total blockade against Gaza under the pretext of pressuring Palestinian militant groups to agree on a ceasefire proposed by the United States and a exchange of hostages.

As the ceasefire agreement ended, Israel resumed military operations in Gaza on March 18.

As of yesterday, Palestinian deaths in the Gaza Strip since the latest conflict broke out have reached 57,575, the majority of women and children, while 136,879 others were injured, according to a medical source in Gaza, quoted from WAFA.