Trump Pressures Netanyahu to End Gaza War Amid Growing White House Frustration

Watan-The Israeli news site Walla reported on Tuesday, citing two White House officials, that U.S. President Donald Trump is growing increasingly frustrated with the ongoing Israeli war on Gaza. The officials said that Trump has expressed “horror” over the suffering of Palestinian children in the besieged territory. According to the sources, Trump has sent direct messages to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, urging him to “work toward ending” the war.

A senior White House official stated, “Trump wants the war to end, hostages to be returned, aid to resume, and Gaza’s reconstruction to begin.” He added that the deadlock in negotiations between Israel and Hamas, along with the deteriorating conditions on the ground, prompted Vice President J.D. Vance to cancel a planned trip to Tel Aviv this week.

Another official noted, “There’s a great deal of frustration over how long this crisis has dragged on.” Trump’s recent unilateral move to secure the release of hostage Edan Alexander without waiting for an Israel-Hamas agreement reportedly stems from that same frustration.

According to the same sources, Trump views his recent Middle East tour as a great success but believes the war in Gaza is obstructing his broader regional agenda. “The president sees a real opportunity for peace and prosperity in the region, and Gaza is the last major hotspot—he wants it resolved,” one official said. Another remarked that the war is distracting Trump from other initiatives he hopes to advance.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Israeli newspaper Israel Hayom reported that Trump’s patience with Netanyahu is “wearing thin,” and that he may soon demand a specific timetable for ending the Gaza war. While Trump has not publicly criticized Israel, the paper noted that the tone in the White House is shifting, with sources close to the administration discussing setting a deadline to end the war.

The report also stated that the U.S. administration is considering inviting former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett to the White House—polls show him as a strong contender in Israel’s next elections. Sources familiar with U.S.-Israel relations said that Trump may ask Israel to set a clear end date for the war, as he is “not prepared for it to continue indefinitely.” One official indicated that the possible invitation to Bennett is meant to signal the administration’s deep disappointment in Netanyahu.

An unnamed senior American official was quoted as saying, “This administration supports Israel, but it is not composed of the same individuals as during Trump’s first term. Israel should understand that.”