Trump says ties with Netanyahu remain ‘very good’ despite Gaza rift

US President Donald Trump on Monday said his relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remains “very good”, despite the Israeli leader’s rejection of a US-backed plan to end the Gaza war.

“The relationship is very good,” Trump told reporters after an Oval Office event when asked about his ties with Netanyahu.

The comments came a day after Netanyahu publicly opposed the Gaza proposal, which calls for Israel to begin withdrawing troops in coordination with Hamas disarming.

Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, is facing a tight electoral contest ahead of the October 27 elections, the first since Hamas’ October 2023 attack that triggered the war in Gaza.

The Gaza proposal has faced opposition from Netanyahu’s right-wing support base, with far-right members of his coalition urging him to reject the plan.

Netanyahu had previously highlighted his close ties with Trump, who has taken several major steps in support of Israel, including moving the US embassy to Jerusalem.

Trump and Netanyahu also diverged over the conflict with Iran. Although Trump joined Netanyahu in launching the war against Iran in late February, the US president later pushed for a ceasefire and a negotiated settlement as the conflict hurt his popularity and drove up oil prices.

The Gaza proposal is the latest phase of a US-brokered ceasefire announced in October that has reduced, but not halted, Israeli military operations in the territory.

According to Gaza’s health ministry, which operates under Hamas control and whose casualty figures are considered reliable by the United Nations, more than 1,250 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli operations since the ceasefire began. The Israeli military has reported five deaths among its forces during the same period.