Trump’s Gulf Tour Reveals Rift with Netanyahu and Neglect of Gaza
As Trump seals lucrative deals in the Gulf, he sidelines Israel’s Netanyahu, brushes off Gaza’s suffering, and pushes a radical new vision for the region.
Watan-A report noted that during his Middle East trip, U.S. President Donald Trump sidelined Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while offering no real aid to Gaza. Instead of realizing his often-touted “grand deal,” Trump returned with piecemeal agreements.
According to a former Israeli intelligence official, Trump no longer views Israel through a lens of shared strategic values but rather sees it as a “preferred client” or even a “real estate asset.”
Trump’s tour through Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE—key energy players with strong influence in Washington—yielded investment deals, arms agreements, and AI chip development plans. The visit was clearly commercial in tone, with only lip service given to peace efforts.
Trump’s Regional Overtures Clash with Israeli War Agenda
Trump extended a hand to Iran for a nuclear agreement and unexpectedly announced both the end of military operations against the Houthis in Yemen and the lifting of sanctions on Syria—moves that unsettled Israel.
Before the trip, Israeli officials and media had already noted how Trump was bypassing Netanyahu, despite their previous close ties during Trump’s first term. Trump’s current Middle East strategy appears increasingly disconnected from Netanyahu’s vision. The Israeli prime minister reportedly disapproved of Trump’s unilateral ceasefire with the Houthis, outreach to Syria, and nuclear diplomacy with Tehran—countries Israel has bombarded or antagonized.
Though Trump referenced the Abraham Accords, they seemed peripheral to his current agenda. Meanwhile, Israel continued bombing Gaza, killing scores of civilians. On Thursday alone, over 100 people were reportedly killed. A hospital director in northern Gaza told journalists they had received the bodies of 20 children from a single strike. One in five people in Gaza now faces famine due to the ongoing blockade.
Netanyahu vowed to continue the attacks and destroy Hamas completely, obstructing ceasefire negotiations in Doha. Families of Israeli captives have condemned him for prolonging the war for political gain.
Trump’s Radical Gaza Plan and Shift in Priorities Alarm Israeli Leadership
Trump, meanwhile, praised the release of dual national Edan Alexander by Hamas, calling it a goodwill gesture. The tone from the White House suggested growing impatience with Netanyahu, whom some in the administration see as a hindrance to a lasting ceasefire.
Trump doubled down on his controversial idea to depopulate and redevelop Gaza, telling reporters, “Gaza has been a land of death and destruction for years. I have very good ideas for Gaza—turning it into a free zone. Let the U.S. step in and make it a free zone.”
Analysts point to a widening Trump-Netanyahu divide. As Ilan Goldenberg from J Street wrote, “For Netanyahu, whose settler allies drove Trump’s first-term policies, Trump 2 is a shock. When Trump sees Netanyahu and [far-right leader] Ben Gvir, he sees a headache.”
This includes a seemingly endless war in Gaza, resistance to talks with Iran, and an Israel unwilling to make the political compromises needed for deeper regional integration.
Dennis Ross, a former U.S. envoy, said Trump’s commercial instincts and desire to play peacemaker clash with Netanyahu’s goals. “Trump defines U.S. interests not through geopolitical logic but economic and financial calculations. He may wonder why we send Israel $4 billion a year in aid while doing so much for them.”
Former Israeli intelligence official Oded Ailam warned in Israel Hayom that Trump’s evolving vision no longer positions Israel as a strategic cornerstone but as a negotiable asset in a broader Gulf-centered plan.
He stressed that Israel must understand Trump in 2025 is a different political creature, and the Republican Party has changed with him.
