Netanyahu must now work for support of US as Trump tires of Israel’s war in Gaza
The US president will not visit Israel on a trip to the Middle East
Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff has reportedly said Netanyahu’s government is drawing out the war Witkoff didn’t mince his words
In a meeting late on Sunday with former hostages and relatives of those still held in Gaza, Witkoff told them Israel is drawing out a war the US wants to end, local media reported
On the eve of the release of Edan Alexander, the last living American being held by Hamas, Witkoff spelt out the gulf between his boss US president Donald Trump and the government of Benjamin Netanyahu
Witkoff told the meeting, according to Channel 12 Television, quoting sources who were present,
Quote
“We want to bring the hostages home but Israel is not willing to end the war
Israel is prolonging it — despite the fact that we don’t see where else we can go and that an agreement must be reached”
It was the latest in a series of high-profile and high-stakes snubs from the White House which suggest that Israel’s most important ally is frustrated with its government — and possibly losing interest in its fortunes
