Archive · 11 Aug 2026
Trump Insists Netanyahu Relationship "Very Good" Despite Gaza Rift
Donald Trump is the leader of the United States, and Benjamin Netanyahu is the leader of Israel.
Trump says the two of them are still good friends.
But they do not agree about a plan for a place called Gaza.
The plan said Israel should move its soldiers out of Gaza if a group called Hamas gives up its weapons.
Netanyahu does not like that plan.
Many people in his own government told him to say no to it.
Israel is going to have an election on October 27, and right now Netanyahu's side is not leading in the polls.
Even though the fighting in Gaza calmed down, it did not fully stop.
Since the calm began, more than 1,250 people in Gaza have died, and five Israeli soldiers have died too.
Trump and Netanyahu agreed to start a war against Iran together, but then disagreed about how to end it.
President Trump said his relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu is "very good" despite the rift over Gaza.
Netanyahu rejected the US-led Gaza plan, which called for Israel to begin pulling back forces in tandem with Hamas disarmament.
Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving leader, faces October 27 elections running even or trailing in some polls.
Trump and Netanyahu jointly launched a war against Iran in late February but diverged when Trump sought a ceasefire and settlement.
Since the US-brokered ceasefire, Israeli operations have killed more than 1,250 Palestinians, per Gaza's health ministry, while Israel reported five army deaths.
- Who
- US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
- What
- Trump defended his relationship with Netanyahu after Netanyahu rejected the US-led Gaza plan
- When
- Trump spoke on Monday; Netanyahu voiced his opposition on Sunday; Israeli elections are scheduled for October 27
- Where
- The White House (at the end of an Oval Office event), with the dispute centering on Israel and Gaza
- Why
- Netanyahu rejected the plan, which polls show is unpopular with his right-wing base and which far-right cabinet members had urged him to kill
Backers of the US-led plan
Netanyahu and his right-wing base
The Gaza plan
Backers of the US-led plan
The US-led plan called for Israel to begin pulling back forces in tandem with disarmament by Hamas, as the latest stage of a US-brokered ceasefire that has reduced Israeli operations in Gaza.
Netanyahu and his right-wing base
Netanyahu rejected the plan, which polls show is unpopular with his right-wing base, and far-right members of his cabinet had urged him to kill it.
The war against Iran
Backers of the US-led plan
Trump sought a ceasefire and subsequent settlement to the conflict as it sapped his popularity and sent oil prices soaring.
Netanyahu and his right-wing base
Netanyahu co-launched the war with Trump in late February, but the two diverged when Trump pushed for a settlement, and Netanyahu has since opposed the ceasefire-linked Gaza plan.
- Diplomatic relationship
- "Very good," per President Trump
- Gaza plan
- US-led plan for Israel to pull back forces in tandem with Hamas disarmament
- Netanyahu's position
- Rejected the plan on Sunday
- Israeli elections
- October 27
- Palestinian deaths since ceasefire
- More than 1,250, per Gaza's health ministry (figures considered reliable by the UN)
- Israeli army deaths since ceasefire
- 5
- Ceasefire
- US-brokered, announced in October; reduced but did not end Israeli operations in Gaza
- War against Iran
- Launched jointly by Trump and Netanyahu in late February