Trump says he will be ‘very firm’ with Netanyahu on ending the war in Gaza

US President Donald Trump tells reporters he’s going to be “very firm” with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about the need to end the war in Gaza during the Israeli premier’s visit to the White House next week, “but he wants it too.”

Trump reiterates his belief that a ceasefire and hostage release deal will be reached shortly. “I think we’ll have a deal next week,” he says. Last week, he predicted that a deal would be reached this week.

Trump also says Netanyahu’s visit, set for Monday, will be a celebration of the US and Israeli strikes on Iran during the 12-day conflict, which ended last week.

The US president says questions about just how big an impact the operations had in setting back Iran’s nuclear program are demeaning to the US pilots who carried out strikes on three key nuclear facilities: “We should celebrate these heroes,” Trump says.