Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has officially nominated President Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, as the two leaders met in Washington to discuss a 60-day ceasefire proposal between Israel and Hamas.
During their joint meeting at the White House on Tuesday, Trump revealed that Hamas has shown willingness to enter a temporary truce in the nearly two-year war with Israel.
“They want to meet and they want to have that ceasefire,” Trump said, responding to questions about Israel’s intensified military actions in Gaza.
Ceasefire Discussions and Ongoing Conflict
The leaders’ meeting comes amid escalating violence in the Gaza Strip, where at least 12 people were reportedly killed by Israeli strikes, including six at a clinic sheltering displaced Palestinians, according to Gaza’s civil defense agency.
The Israel-Hamas conflict began in October 2023, following a deadly Hamas incursion into southern Israel that killed approximately 1,200 people and led to the capture of numerous hostages. Since then, Gaza officials estimate over 41,000 Palestinians have died, with nearly 2.3 million displaced due to ongoing Israeli operations.
Trump, speaking on the broader situation, said that he has support from several neighboring countries for plans to relocate and resettle Palestinians post-war. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt added that Trump is preparing a plan to rebuild Gaza once a ceasefire takes effect.
Families of hostages held by Hamas have urged that any ceasefire agreement must include the release of those still in captivity.
Netanyahu Praises Trump’s Leadership, Pushes for Peace Prize
In a symbolic moment during their dinner meeting, Netanyahu personally handed Trump a copy of the letter he sent to the Nobel Committee, nominating the U.S. president for the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize.
“He’s forging peace as we speak — in one country, in one region after another,” Netanyahu said, praising Trump’s role in international diplomacy.
The renewed cooperation between the two leaders follows the conclusion of a 12-day U.S.-Israel military operation targeting Iranian nuclear facilities, after which Trump announced a ceasefire in the region.
Both Trump and Netanyahu have expressed optimism that the proposed 60-day ceasefire with Hamas could mark a turning point in the conflict — and potentially lay the groundwork for long-term stability in the Middle East.
