WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump reportedly admonished Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to “stop being so f***ing negative” during a private call about a potential Gaza peace deal, highlighting tensions between the two leaders as talks reach a critical juncture nearly two years into the war.
According to a report by Axios, Trump phoned Netanyahu on Friday to deliver what he described as “good news” after Hamas responded to Washington’s Gaza peace proposal. However, Netanyahu downplayed the development, saying there was “nothing to celebrate” and that Hamas’s response “doesn’t mean anything.”
Trump snapped back, telling the Israeli leader, “I don’t know why you’re always so f***ing negative. This is a win. Take it,” a U.S. official familiar with the call told Axios.
Israeli officials said Netanyahu considered Hamas’s reply a rejection of the plan and wanted to issue a joint U.S.-Israeli response to avoid any perception that Hamas had accepted the proposal. Trump, by contrast, viewed the response as a significant opening and was determined to push past Netanyahu’s reservations to secure a ceasefire.
Shortly after the call, Trump issued a public statement urging Israel to halt airstrikes in Gaza. Within three hours, Netanyahu complied, according to the report.
In a subsequent interview with Axios, Trump said, “We are close” to finalizing a deal and described this as Netanyahu’s “chance for victory.” He added, “He’s got to be fine with it. He has no choice. With me, you got to be fine.”
Delegations from Hamas, Israel, and the U.S. are meeting in Egypt this week to discuss the next steps, including setting a date for a temporary truce and negotiating the first phase of the plan. That phase is expected to include the release of 47 hostages held in Gaza in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
Trump posted on Truth Social Sunday that discussions with Hamas and international mediators were “positive” and called on all parties to “MOVE FAST” to finalize the deal.