US President Donald Trump has invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to visit the White House on February 4, marking him as the first foreign leader to be welcomed since the onset of the Gaza conflict. Netanyahu is currently sought by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The invitation follows a recent temporary ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, which has seen the gradual release of hostages taken during the October 7 attacks that resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths. In response, Israel has conducted an extensive military campaign in Gaza, leading to over 47,000 Palestinian deaths, predominantly among women and children.
During this period, Trump suggested that Egypt and Jordan could temporarily host Palestinian refugees, a proposal that has been met with swift rejection from both nations and raised concerns among Palestinians about potential displacement reminiscent of historical events in 1948.
In Gaza, over 375,000 Palestinians have returned to the northern region, which was heavily impacted by the conflict, marking the first return since the war's early days. Despite the devastation, many expressed relief at being able to return home.
In the United States, Congress attempted to pass legislation to retaliate against the ICC following the arrest warrant issued for Netanyahu and his former defense minister. Although the bill passed in the House of Representatives, it failed to secure enough votes in the Senate, falling short of the required 60.