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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is under growing pressure both domestically and internationally over the war in the Gaza Strip. US President Donald Trump, who had previously demonstrated unwavering support for Israel, is losing patience, and allies are warning of the risk of Israel’s isolation on the world stage, The Times reports.
Netanyahu recently allowed limited humanitarian aid to resume to Gaza after nearly three months of blockade. The move sparked outrage from his far-right supporters, but the prime minister said it was necessary to avoid “images of mass starvation” that alienate Israel’s allies. The decision came shortly after Trump’s tour of the Gulf states, where leaders who have invested billions of dollars in cooperation with the US called on the president to end the war. Trump pledged to help the “starving” residents of Gaza, expressing, according to sources, genuine concern for their fate.
Meanwhile, irritation is growing in the US with Netanyahu, whom Trump, according to insiders, “never really liked”. Unlike his predecessors, Trump is known for his unpredictability, and world leaders are trying to tread carefully to avoid losing his favour. The United States is actively promoting a compromise in the negotiations between Israel and Hamas, which are being mediated by Qatar. However, Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said that the talks have reached a deadlock, and Israel’s actions “undermine any chance of peace”.
Israeli media report that Trump is close to a boiling point in his relationship with Netanyahu. The sudden US talks with Iran and the ceasefire with the Houthis came as a surprise to Israel. In addition, US envoy Steve Witkoff reportedly accused Israel of prolonging the war. While the White House has denied rumours of Israel’s “abandonment”, sources say Trump is keen to end the conflict even as Israel expands an operation that could destroy the remaining infrastructure in Gaza.
Officially, the new Israeli operation called “Gideon’s Chariots” is aimed at releasing hostages held by Hamas since 7 October 2023. However, the US, UK, France, and Canada, which have threatened sanctions if the operation continues, are concerned about Netanyahu and his ministers’ statements. In particular, far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said that “Gaza will be completely destroyed,” fuelling accusations of intentions to “ethnically cleanse” the territory – accusations that Israel categorically denies.
In Gaza itself, Hamas is also facing pressure. Local residents blame the group for the destructive war, and protests against it are becoming more frequent. Hamas militants have responded with reprisals, killing and intimidating opponents, and publicly downplaying the more than 50,000 deaths that Hamas-controlled health services have reported.
In Israel, Netanyahu is facing protests demanding an end to the war. The leader of the opposition Israeli Democrats party, Yair Golan, warned that the country risks becoming a “pariah” like apartheid-era South Africa if it does not return to “reasonable politics”.
Against this backdrop, the release of the American-Israeli hostage Eden Alexander was a rare piece of positive news, but the question of whether Trump will have the patience to confront Netanyahu remains open.
Source: The Times
