Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced that he is nominating Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, during a high-stakes dinner at the White House on Monday. This surprise announcement comes as the US is pushing Israel to agree to a Gaza ceasefire after nearly two years of intense fighting with Hamas.
Nobel Nomination During Ceasefire Talks
Before the dinner, Netanyahu handed Trump a letter that he said he had sent to the Nobel committee, praising Trump’s “efforts to end conflicts in the Middle East.”
“You deserve it,” Netanyahu told Trump, adding that the nomination carries the “appreciation and admiration” of all Israelis and the Jewish people.
Trump, who was visibly pleased, replied, “Coming from you in particular, this is very meaningful.”
This is the second major Nobel Peace Prize nomination for Trump this year — Pakistan also announced last month that it would recommend him for the award.
Focus on Gaza Ceasefire
The White House meeting focused heavily on ending the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, which has claimed nearly 60,000 lives, most of them Palestinian civilians.
Negotiators from Israel and Hamas met for indirect talks in Qatar on Monday for the first time in six weeks. While both sides sounded cautiously positive, major sticking points remain — including Israeli guarantees to halt military action and Netanyahu’s demand to permanently remove Hamas from Gaza.
“I think we can work out a peace between us and the entire Middle East with President Trump’s leadership and by working together,” Netanyahu said.
Questions About Forced Relocation
Netanyahu also faced tough questions about reports that Israel plans to force Palestinians in Gaza into a massive camp in Rafah — a plan widely criticized as “ethnic cleansing.”
When asked, Trump deferred the question to Netanyahu, who said:
“It’s called free choice. If people want to stay, they can stay. If they want to leave, they should be able to leave.”
He added that Israel and the US are working together to find countries willing to accept Palestinians who choose to leave Gaza.
Talks with Iran and Ukraine
During the meeting, Trump also spoke about the US’s tense relationship with Iran, saying he hoped the US would not launch more strikes following recent clashes over Iran’s nuclear program. He hinted that fresh talks with Iran may happen soon.
On Ukraine, Trump signaled a possible shift, saying he would resume weapons shipments to help Ukraine defend itself against Russia’s ongoing invasion.
“They’re getting hit very hard. We’re going to have to send more weapons,” Trump said, adding he was “not happy” with President Putin.
Background and What’s Next
Before flying to Washington, Netanyahu said he believed a Gaza deal was possible and that his negotiators had clear instructions. Israeli sources described the Qatar talks as “positive,” but Palestinian officials were more cautious, saying Sunday’s meeting ended without agreement.
Netanyahu is expected to hold more meetings in Washington with top US officials, including Vice-President JD Vance and House Speaker Mike Johnson.
As the region waits for a possible ceasefire deal, the Nobel nomination adds another twist to the complex relationship between Netanyahu and Trump — and to Trump’s ambitions on the global stage.
Final Words
The coming days will reveal whether the Gaza ceasefire can move forward — and whether Trump’s bid for the Nobel Peace Prize gains traction amid ongoing conflicts in the Middle East.
- Read Next: Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Talks in Qatar
