"Historic meeting"

Netanyahu and Trump talk about “victory over Hamas”

Israel's right-wing nationalist Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump in 2017.(Bild: AP)

Israel's right-wing nationalist Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu plans to discuss key issues affecting Israel and the Middle East region during his meeting with US President Donald Trump. These include "a victory over Hamas, the release of all our hostages and action against the Iranian terror axis and all its components". 

Before leaving for the USA on Sunday, he emphasized that the Iranian axis not only threatened Israel, but also the Middle East and the entire world.

Trump's first state guest from abroad
Netanyahu once again emphasized that Trump would be the first head of government to receive him from abroad. This was proof "of the strength of the Israeli-American alliance" as well as "the strength of our personal friendship".

Israel's right-wing nationalist Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump in 2017.(Bild: AP)

"The decisions we have made in this war have already made a difference," said the Israeli head of government. In close cooperation with Trump, "we can design (the face of the Middle East, ed.) further and better".

Trump, on the other hand, believes he can achieve a "remarkable era of peace through strength". Trump and Netanyahu are also said to be seeking a normalization agreement with Saudi Arabia.

Donald Trump is known as a close ally of Netanyahu (r.), who has come under heavy international criticism for Israel's conduct of the war in Gaza.(Bild: AFP/AFP )

Gaza Strip is a"wasteland for demolition"
 Several influential Arab states have rejected Trump's proposal to resettle Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, which they say is a "wasteland for demolition".

Video: Netanyahu on meeting with Trump before departure from Israel (in English) 

Complete destruction of Hamas as a war goal
Netanyahu welcomed the release of three more hostages in the Gaza Strip in return for dozens of Palestinian prisoners. He added that they would continue to work resolutely for the release of all 79 remaining hostages, as well as for "the achievement of all war aims".

The release of the hostages was part of a ceasefire agreement with the Islamist Hamas. However, one of Israel's war aims is the complete destruction of Hamas.