In a high-stakes diplomatic showdown, U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met for the second time in less than 24 hours at the White House, but failed to secure a breakthrough on a much-anticipated ceasefire in Gaza. As tensions escalate in the region, Netanyahu emphasized the urgency of eliminating Hamas’s military capabilities during their discussions, which also touched on efforts to secure the release of hostages and the ongoing conflict with Iran.

The meetings come amid a backdrop of rising violence and international pressure for a resolution. Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Whit, had previously expressed optimism about a potential 60-day ceasefire agreement by the end of the week, but the lack of concrete progress from this latest round of talks raises serious doubts.

Phil Lavell, reporting live from Washington, notes that Netanyahu is eager to project a sense of triumph back home, leveraging his face time with the U.S. President to bolster his political standing. However, the atmosphere of the second meeting starkly contrasted with the first, which featured a public dinner where Netanyahu presented Trump with a Nobel Peace Prize nomination. This time, the meeting was unscheduled, closed to cameras, and lasted only about an hour, with no official readout from the White House—raising eyebrows about potential unresolved issues between the leaders.

As the world watches closely, both leaders are keen to display unity despite recent tensions over Iran. The urgency for a ceasefire has never been greater, but for now, the path to peace remains shrouded in uncertainty. Stay tuned for updates as this critical story unfolds.