As indirect ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas continued in Doha with no breakthrough, U.S. President Donald Trump hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington on Monday night. Their dinner meeting at the White House focused on several contentious issues shaping the Middle East, from the Gaza war and Israeli hostages to broader regional realignment, including Syria and Iran.

Gaza Displacement and “Free Choice”

Trump doubled down on his vision of a radically reshaped Gaza, previously described as “the Riviera of the Middle East,” and again floated the idea of relocating Palestinian residents to neighboring Arab countries. Speaking to reporters at the dinner, he said, “We’ve had great cooperation from... surrounding countries, great cooperation from every single one of them. So something good will happen.”

Netanyahu praised the concept, reframing the forced migration narrative by invoking “free choice.” “If people want to stay, they can stay, but if they want to leave, they should be able to leave,” he said. “It shouldn’t be a prison. It should be an open place and give people a free choice.”

The statements drew immediate criticism from human rights advocates, who have long described Gaza as an "open-air prison" under Israeli blockade since 2006. Scholars and international law experts warn that the forced displacement of Palestinians would amount to a violation of international law and could be considered a war crime.

The meeting also included symbolic gestures. Netanyahu surprised Trump by nominating him for a Nobel Peace Prize, praising his diplomatic efforts in the region. “He’s forging peace, as we speak, in one country in the region after another,” Netanyahu said.

While the two leaders are not personally close, according to aides, they have forged a strategic partnership rooted in shared policy interests and regional ambitions. This was Netanyahu’s third visit to the White House since Trump’s return to office—more than any other foreign leader.

Iran Strikes and Nuclear Talks

The dinner also served as a backdrop to one of the most dramatic developments in recent U.S. foreign policy: Trump’s authorization of U.S. airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities, a move no previous president had undertaken. Trump compared the decision to President Truman’s use of atomic bombs in WWII: “That stopped a lot of fighting, and this stopped a lot of fighting.”

Despite the rhetoric, U.S. intelligence sources have reportedly cast doubt on the claim of “total obliteration.” Nevertheless, Trump’s administration confirmed that U.S.-Iran nuclear talks would resume in Oslo within days. “They want to talk,” Trump said. “I would love to—at the right time—take those sanctions off.”

The move signals a shift from pure confrontation toward conditional diplomacy. Trump emphasized that Iran must abandon its aggressive posture and inflammatory rhetoric if it hopes to see sanctions lifted and reintegration into the global economy.

Syria, Abraham Accords, and Regional Restructuring

Another key topic was regional normalization, particularly through the Abraham Accords framework. Trump has taken steps to restore diplomatic relations between Israel and several Arab states and now aims to extend the agreements to include Syria.

Trump recently signed an executive order to lift decades-old sanctions on Syria, where President Ahmed al-Shara’s fledgling government is attempting to rebuild after a devastating civil war. U.S.-brokered discussions between Syria and Israel are reportedly underway to reduce tensions along their shared border.

White House officials confirmed that Syria-Israel normalization is being framed as part of a broader strategy to stabilize the Levant and reduce Iran’s regional influence.

Hostages and Ceasefire Negotiations

The immediate priority, however, remains achieving a ceasefire in Gaza and securing the release of hostages. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said, “There was a cease-fire proposal that Israel supports that was sent to Hamas, and we hope that they will agree to this proposal.”

Steve Witkoff, Trump’s Special Envoy for Peace Missions, is expected to travel to Doha for further negotiations involving Qatar and Egypt. Though Hamas recently confirmed that the latest talks ended without a breakthrough, U.S. officials remain hopeful.

“We’re working on a lot of things,” Trump said. “I think there’s a good chance we have a deal with Hamas during the week.”

International Reactions and Concerns

The international community has voiced deep concern over Trump’s Gaza relocation plans. Arab states have put forward an alternative framework focused on rebuilding Gaza, retaining its Palestinian population, and establishing a demilitarized state without Hamas in government. Trump and Netanyahu have rejected this approach so far.

Elliott Abrams, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, commented that while a hostage deal may be near, “the great complication comes in when you try to extend that and make it a long-term, permanent agreement over the future of the West Bank and Palestinian statehood.”

Rachel Brandenburg of the Israel Policy Forum added, “Trump would like to secure the terms of a cease-fire... but Netanyahu probably just wants to take a victory lap and not have to agree on anything that risks his own political standing.”