Trump: Netanyahu May Visit U.S. Next Week
President Donald Trump said Thursday (3rd) that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may visit the United States as early as next week. The potential visit comes amid heightened regional tensions, and as fighting in Gaza continues and dozens of hostages remain in captivity.
“I spoke to him today,” Trump said, referring to Netanyahu, “and I think he’s going to be coming to our country sometime in the not too distant future, maybe next week.”
Speaking to reporters outside Air Force One, Trump was asked by a reporter about progress on his plan to relocate Gazan Palestinians in order to rehabilitate the Strip. Trump said it’s been a problem for many years, many, many decades. “It’s one of the big problems we have. I’ve met with some of the hostages, it’s a terrible situation. Hopefully more of the hostages will be released soon.”
Trump’s phone call with Netanyahu on Thursday (3rd) also coincided with an announcement by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban that his country intends to withdraw from the International Criminal Court in the Hague. Orban made the announcement following Netanyahu’s arrival in Budapest, where the two leaders held a series of meetings and are scheduled to have a private dinner on Friday (4th).
Hungary’s decision drew praise from Netanyahu’s office, which called it a diplomatic breakthrough. “Hungary’s withdrawal from the ICC is a major win for Israel,” said a senior official in the prime minister’s delegation. “It’s the first country to take this step, and we hope others will follow.”
Orban’s chief of staff said the ICC had become a “political tribunal,” and cited its recent moves against Israel as a primary reason for Hungary’s exit.
Israeli officials also said Hungary had agreed in principle to move its embassy to Jerusalem, though no timetable has been announced.
IDF Spokesperson: ‘We Have Progressed To Another Stage Of The Renewed Operation
IDF Spokesperson Brigadier General Effie Defrin delivered a briefing Thursday evening (3rd) on the IDF’s recent actions in the various combat arenas.
“In recent days, we have progressed to another stage of the renewed operation. The plan serves the objectives of the war – the return of the hostages and the dismantling of Hamas’ military and governmental capabilities,” Defrin said. “The operation began with coordinated air and ground activity. We struck more than 60 terrorist targets in the northern and southern parts of the Gaza Strip to damage Hamas’ military and governmental capabilities and to prepare the environment for a ground operation.”
“We have expanded operations in the southern Gaza Strip with the goal of encircling and dividing the Rafah area,” he said. “In northern Gaza, our troops are operating against terrorist targets, clearing the area, and dismantling terrorist infrastructure. Beyond that,we are maintaining operational ambiguity to surprise the enemy and achieve significant gains – ‘Our actions will speak for themselves.’”
He noted, “Since the resumption of operations in the Gaza Strip, we have struck more than 600 terrorist targets and eliminated more than 250 terrorists, including twelve senior members of the Hamas terror organization and its governing arm. They are all terrorists, all of whom took part in the October 7th massacre.”
“We are operating according to a gradual plan with varying intensity. As the Chief of the General Staff said on Wednesday (2nd) during his visit to the soldiers in the Gaza Strip: ‘The only thing that can stop us from continuing our advance is the release of our hostages!’” “We will not rest until we bring back the 59 hostages – both the living and the fallen – whose families – the parents, siblings, spouses, and children – have been waiting for them for a long time.”
Turning to the northern front, Defrin said, “In the Syrian arena, IDF troops operated overnight in southern Syria. The soldiers confiscated and dismantled weapons to prevent the entrenchment of hostile forces that pose a threat to the State of Israel. During the operation, the troops encountered terrorists and eliminated them through ground and air strikes. We are continuing to operate in the security zone that separates Israeli residents from Syria, ensuring the safety of the population.”
In the Lebanese arena, we continue to act in accordance with the ceasefire and understandings with Lebanon. We hold the Lebanese state responsible for what happens within its territory and will continue to enforce security measures and protect the residents of northern Israel,” he said.
He stated, in Judea and Samaria, IDF troops continue counterterrorism operations with a focus on the northern Samaria region. This crucial activity directly prevents attacks and terrorist activity. The soldiers operate in a professional manner, achieving significant results that have proven themselves throughout the month of Ramadan.”
He continued, “On Wednesday (2nd), during a visit to the Gaza Strip, we met with reserve soldiers from the armed and infantry brigades that were called up. I saw familiar faces – soldiers who fought alongside me in the past who completed their mandatory service years ago, and yet many of them continue to serve the country in reserve duty. Most of them have been in combat for a year and a half, leaving behind their families, jobs, and daily routines for the sake of us all.”
“I address all the reserve soldiers as the spokesperson of the IDF – you are our strength, and it is our responsibility to recognize your service and ensure that you receive all the necessary support. As such, and as announced Wednesday (2nd), resources have been allocated by the government for this purpose. In accordance with the Chief of the General Staff’s directive, the IDF is advancing a program, led by the Deputy Chief of the General Staff to support and reward those who bear the burden – first and foremost, the reservists. We all salute you!” Defrin concluded.
Deadly Clashes Between IDF Forces And Syrians After Mosque Calls For Jihad
At least 10 Syrian gunmen were killed and more injured during clashes with Israeli forces in southwestern Syria Thursday morning (3rd).
The skirmish took place between the towns of Nawa and Tasil in the Daraa governorate, roughly 8 miles east of the Israeli Golan Heights.
While the territory is beyond the 1974 buffer zone, Israel returned the territory to IDF control after the overthrow of the Assad government last December, and IDF forces have operated in the area to ensure southern Syria remains demilitarized.
According to the IDF, Israeli troops were deployed to an area outside of Tasil to dismantle terrorist infrastructure and to seize weapons stashed in the area.
Syrian gunmen attacked the IDF force, sparking a gun battle, with Israeli aircraft called in to support the ground force.
“During the night, forces from the 474th Brigade operated in the Tasil area of southern Syria, seizing weapons and destroying terrorist infrastructure,” an IDF spokesperson said.
“During the operation, several armed individuals fired at our forces in the area. The forces responded with gunfire, eliminating several armed terrorists from both the ground and the air.”
“The presence of weapons in southern Syria poses a threat to the State of Israel. The IDF will not allow a military threat to exist in Syria and will act against it.”
The Israeli military said that no casualties were suffered to the IDF force in Tasil.
The Syrian government claimed that ten people were killed during the clashes, which Syrian state media said involved not only Israeli aircraft but also artillery.
The anti-Assad, London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the clashes occurred amid calls by local mosques for residents to carry out “jihad” against Israelis operating in Syrian territory.
Meanwhile, Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz participated Thursday morning (3rd) in a ceremony ahead of Passover with employees of the Defense Ministry, following Wednesday’s (2nd) thwarting of terrorists in southern Syria and Israeli strikes on airfields. “Israel will not allow Syria to become a threat to its communities and security interests,” Katz said.
“I warn Syrian ruler Julani, if you allow forces hostile to Israel to enter Syria and endanger Israeli security interests – you will pay a very heavy price. The Israeli Air Forces’ operations yesterday against airfields at T4, Hama, and in the Damascus area delivered a clear message and warning about the future – we will not allow harm to the State of Israel’s security, the defense minister said.”
The Palestinian Authority Continues To Teach Hate And Reward Terror – Elliot Abrams
After the Hamas attack on Oct. 7, 2023, President Biden wrote in the Washington Post that a “revitalized Palestinian Authority” should govern both the West Bank and Gaza. Unfortunately, there is no evidence of revitalization when it comes to the PA’s attitude toward terror or toward hatred of Jews and Israel.
IMPACT-se issued a new report on PA textbooks in March 2025. The report concludes, “In July 2024, the Palestinian Authority signed a letter of Intent with the European Union, committing to curriculum reform and the removal of inciting content to align with UNESCO standards of peace and tolerance. However, the materials published for the 2024-2025 school year demonstrate a complete absence of such reforms.”
Donors to the PA’s educational programs should take a closer look at what they are supporting. PA schools are teaching another generation to hate Jews and Israelis and to become terrorists.
The writer is Senior Fellow for Middle Eastern Studies at the Council on Regional Relations
(cfr.org)
Is Egypt Preparing For War In The Sinai Desert?
The Egyptian military has bolstered its presence in the Sinai desert bordering Israel in recent months, leading some experts to question if the mass buildup marks a violation of Cairo’s peace treaty with the Jewish state.
According to the terms of the peace agreement, signed in 1979, Egypt’s military deployment in the Sinai is restricted to a specific number of troops.
But according to a security source, quoted by The Jerusalem Post newspaper, Egypt’s recent actions in the region go beyond its allotted quota and may constitute a violation of the peace treaty.
“Egypt has deployed forces beyond the permitted amount, expanded port facilities, and extended runways at airports,” the source told the Post, adding that “these moves are outside the bounds of the agreement.”
The official was quick to add that Egypt could comply with the agreement once again, by simply reducing its troops in the Sinai.
However, “Israel will not accept the situation and will not tolerate violations from Cairo,” the official warned the Post.
The official told the newspaper that Israel is holding discussions with both Cairo and Washington on the matter. “Washington is responsible for upholding the peace agreement and must ensure it is implemented as written,” the official said.
So far, Israel has refrained from commenting publicly on Egypt’s actions in the Sinai, though the Israeli Ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter wrote a letter to the Trump administration expressing concern over the issue.
Leiter referred to the expanded Egyptian military presence in the region as “intolerable” in a February 2025 letter. “For a long time, this issue was pushed aside, but it is continuing,” Leiter wrote. “This will be a topic we are going to put on the table – very soon and very firmly.”
The Consequences Of Accepting Hamas’ Terms For A Hostage Deal – Prof. Hillel Frisch (Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security)
• Paying “any price” for the Israeli hostages’ release effectively means accepting Hamas’ continued effective control of Gaza, accompanied by the lifting of the blockade and the extensive release of Palestinian terrorists from prison.
• Hamas would be able to portray such an outcome as a significant achievement and as proof of the legitimacy of the jihadist project. This message will bolster support for Hamas and its methods within the Palestinian arena and throughout the Muslim world.
• Israel has already released more than 300 prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment – more than were released in 2011 in the Gilad Shalit exchange (280 prisoners serving life sentences). Some of these murderous terrorists are viewed as the elite of Palestinian society: individuals who successfully planned attacks, evaded capture, found accomplices who would not betray them, and coolly executed their terrorist acts.
• For example, Israel freed Abd al-Nasser Issa (born 1969), one of the founders of Hamas’ military wing, considered a natural successor to Mohammed Deif as the next commander of the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades.
• To gauge the meaning of the release of such prisoners, recall the importance of those released in the Shalit deal in the execution of the Oct. 7 massacre. They included Yahya Sinwar – the chief architect of Oct. 7 – along with at least ten senior Hamas political and military leaders.
• Hamas’ true objective now is to rebuild its leadership and senior command ranks by drawing from this substantial and high-caliber pool of released prisoners.
The writer is professor emeritus at Bar-Ilan University and former senior researcher at its Begin-Sadat (BESA) Center for Strategic Studies.
