As delegations from Hamas and Israel began indirect talks in Cairo on ending the nearly two-year Gaza war, reports have emerged of tense exchanges between US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Trump, who has framed the negotiations as a cornerstone of his “Nobel peace” ambitions, reportedly lost his temper with Netanyahu during a recent phone call about the deal.
Trump’s frustration underscores his growing impatience with Israel’s reluctance to embrace his proposals and his belief that Hamas is finally showing signs of compromise. The unfolding talks in Egypt, mediated by Cairo and Doha, could mark Trump’s most significant foreign policy test yet.
A “f***ing negative” Netanyahu
According to a US official quoted by Axios, Trump called Netanyahu on Friday to inform him that Hamas was ready to negotiate the release of all remaining Israeli hostages. Instead of sharing Trump’s optimism, Netanyahu dismissed it as insignificant. The response infuriated the president.
“Bibi told Trump this is nothing to celebrate and it doesn’t mean anything,” the official said. Trump shot back, “I don’t know why you’re always so f***ing negative. This is a win. Take it.”
The exchange revealed the growing strain between the two leaders. Sources familiar with the conversation said Trump viewed Hamas’s response as a potential breakthrough, while Netanyahu saw it as a rejection of key elements of the US plan. The president was reportedly annoyed that Israel seemed more focused on controlling the narrative than on seizing a diplomatic opportunity.
Months of tough talk
This was not the first time Trump has clashed with Netanyahu over Gaza. According to reports in The Wall Street Journal, the president has “cursed out Netanyahu several times over the past few months,” particularly when both Israel and Iran violated ceasefire terms earlier in the summer.
“We basically have two countries that have been fighting so long and so hard that they don’t know what the f*** they’re doing,” Trump reportedly said before departing for a NATO summit in June.
He has also complained privately that Netanyahu prefers “military power over negotiations and a ceasefire,” a stance that Trump believes undermines his peace efforts. “He’s f***ing me,” Trump was quoted as saying, reflecting his frustration with Israel’s continued bombardment of Gaza despite repeated US appeals to halt airstrikes.
The stakes for Trump’s peace ambitions
For Trump, who has made Middle East peace central to his foreign policy agenda, the Gaza ceasefire talks are more than just another diplomatic exercise. His administration’s 20-point plan, which envisions a complete hostage-prisoner exchange and a phased Israeli withdrawal, has been promoted as the foundation of a lasting peace.
“I think Hamas has been agreeing to things that are very important... I think we’re going to have a deal,” Trump told reporters at the White House.
The president’s optimism stands in contrast to Israel’s cautious approach. Under his proposal, Hamas would release all hostages, while Israel would free 250 life-sentence prisoners and 1,700 detainees from Gaza. Trump’s plan also explicitly prohibits Israel from occupying or annexing Gaza and guarantees that “no one who lives in Gaza will be forced to leave.”
These terms mark a sharp departure from earlier US proposals and a notable shift in Trump’s tone—from supporting Israel’s military operations to demanding restraint. The president has even ordered Israel to resume “full aid” into Gaza, regardless of Hamas’s final position on the deal.
A high-stakes diplomatic test
Trump’s tough language with Netanyahu appears to be part of a broader strategy to assert control over the peace process. Following their heated phone call, both leaders sought to project unity. “Ultimately, President Trump wants peace, and that’s what matters most,” a US official said. Netanyahu later released a video praising Trump and announced a temporary halt to airstrikes on Gaza.
By Saturday, Trump claimed that Israel had accepted an “initial withdrawal line” and that Hamas had been informed of the details. “When Hamas confirms, the ceasefire will be immediately effective,” he wrote on Truth Social, urging all sides to “move fast.”
Still, Hamas has yet to fully agree to Trump’s plan, and the negotiations in Egypt remain complex. As the president’s envoys -- businessman Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner -- arrive in Cairo to mediate, the outcome could determine whether Trump secures his long-sought diplomatic triumph or faces another stalemate in a conflict that has already claimed tens of thousands of lives.
For now, his message is clear: “Time is of the essence or massive bloodshed will follow, something that nobody wants to see.”
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