WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump vowed Tuesday to be “very firm” in his stance on ending the war in Gaza when he meets next week with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The remarks by the president, made during a tour of a migrant detention center in Florida, came after he said earlier that he was hoping for a truce in the nearly 21-month conflict by “sometime next week.”
The Republican leader is set to host Netanyahu at the White House on July 7 and the swift resolution of Israel’s 12-day war with Iran has revived hopes for a halt to the Gaza fighting.
Almost relentless combat in the Palestinian territory since Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel has created dire humanitarian conditions for the population of more than two million.
Trump was asked Tuesday by reporters if a ceasefire could be in place before Netanyahu’s visit.
“We hope it’s going to happen, and we’re looking for it to happen sometime next week,” he said before departing for Florida.
Trump has previously urged Israel to “make the deal in Gaza,” but on the ground, Israel has continued to pursue its offensive across the Palestinian territory.
The end of Israel’s 12-day war with Iran — which followed a US bombing mission on Tehran’s nuclear sites — has provided a window of opportunity for a deal, with Trump keen to add another peace agreement to a series of recent deals he has brokered.
Asked at the detention center how firm he will be with Netanyahu on ending the war, Trump replied: “Very firm.”
“But he wants it too.... He wants to end it too,” Trump added.
The visit next Monday will be Netanyahu’s third since Trump returned to power in January, and comes on the heels of the US president making a rare intervention into domestic Israeli politics.
Trump appeared over the weekend to threaten US aid to Israel as he called in a social media post for prosecutors to drop long-running corruption charges against Netanyahu.
Netanyahu became the first foreign leader to visit Trump in his second term in February, when the US president surprised him by suddenly announcing a plan for the United States to “take over” Gaza.
The Israeli premier visited again in April.
Trump vows ‘firm’ stance with Netanyahu on ending Gaza war
https://arab.news/bycmg
Trump vows ‘firm’ stance with Netanyahu on ending Gaza war
- Asked at the detention center how firm he will be with Netanyahu on ending the war, Trump replied: “Very firm”
- The visit next Monday will be Netanyahu’s third since Trump returned to power in January
Closing Bell: Saudi main index closes in red at 11,167
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All Share Index slipped on Sunday as it shed 214.60 points, or 1.89 percent, to close at 11,167.48.
The total trading turnover of the benchmark index stood at SR4.44 billion ($1.18 billion), with 33 of the listed stocks advancing and 227 declining.
The Kingdom’s parallel market Nomu also shed 175.96 points, or 0.74 percent, to close at 23,734.90.
The MSCI Tadawul Index declined by 2.12 percent to 1,502.98.
The best-performing stock on the main market was The Mediterranean and Gulf Insurance and Reinsurance Co., as its share price increased by 7.33 percent to SR14.50.
The share price of Thob Al Aseel Co. rose by 2.97 percent to SR3.81.
Middle East Pharmaceutical Industries Co. also saw its stock price climb by 2.60 percent to SR114.60.
Conversely, the share price of Almasane Alkobra Mining Co. declined by 9.93 percent to SR105.20.
On Sunday, Saudi Arabia’s stock market opened to all categories of foreign investors, allowing direct investments in the main market.
This followed an announcement made by the Capital Market Authority in January, which included the removal of restrictions such as the Qualified Foreign Investor framework, which required a minimum of $500 million in assets under management, and the abolition of swap agreements.
On the announcements front, Arab National Bank revealed that its net profit reached SR5.11 billion in 2025, representing an increase of 3.02 percent compared to the previous year.
According to a Tadawul statement, the financial institution attributed the rise in net profit to an increase in net special commission income, net fee and commission income, as well as dividend income.
ANB added that the profits were also supported by net gains on FVSI financial instruments, net exchange income and net trading income.
The share price of ANB edged down by 1.75 percent to SR22.40.
