Trump and Netanyahu reportedly hold call about Gaza hostage-ceasefire deal

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump spoke on the phone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday and discussed the Gaza hostage-ceasefire deal, Axios reports, citing two US sources.

One of the sources is quoted saying the aim of the call was for Trump to encourage Netanyahu to agree to the mediated deal with Hamas, but it’s not clear what in fact the former US president told the premier.

The news site says Netanyahu’s office did not deny the call, while Trump’s campaign declined to comment.

The call was held a day before negotiations are set to resume Thursday in Doha, which is being cast by some officials as the last potential chance on the near horizon to secure a deal to end the fighting in Gaza and free the hostages seized during the October 7 attack on Israel that sparked the war.