Report: Trump initially refused to meet Netanyahu, agreed after Israeli concession on Gaza

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pushed the security cabinet to approve the deployment of the International Stabilization Force (ISF) in Gaza in order to secure his upcoming meeting with US President Donald Trump, Channel 12 reports.

According to the report, the White House had shown little interest in scheduling a meeting with Netanyahu, instead conveying through diplomatic channels that he would need to arrive in Washington with a tangible diplomatic achievement.

Following reported consultations with Israel’s Ambassador to the United States Yechiel Leiter and advisers close to Trump, Netanyahu chose Gaza as the arena in which to demonstrate progress.

Channel 12 says Netanyahu subsequently brought forward the cabinet discussion on approving the initial deployment of the ISF under the Board of Peace-led Gaza plan, despite Hamas not having disarmed.

An Israeli official familiar with the cabinet deliberations tells the network that Netanyahu pushed the decision “without batting an eye,” describing it as “a gesture to Trump” that amounts to backing away from the cabinet’s previous stipulation that Hamas must first be disarmed before such a force could enter Gaza.

Yesterday, the security cabinet approved the initial entry of 200 ISF troops from “friendly countries” to secure the perimeter of a pilot humanitarian zone planned in the Rafah area under the Board of Peace initiative, Israeli officials told The Times of Israel.

Netanyahu departed from Israel earlier today without publicizing his departure in advance, and left from an Air Force base rather than Ben Gurion Airport, reportedly for security reasons. He is set to meet with Trump tomorrow.