Crisis Diplomacy in the Middle East: Netanyahu and Trump in Dialogue

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the designated US President Donald Trump held an important conversation about the current situation in Syria and efforts to release hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip. In the dialogue, Netanyahu emphasized the challenge Trump will face upon taking office on January 20, if no solution is found soon. The recent attacks by Hamas, in which over 250 hostages were taken and 1,200 people were killed, including Israeli-American dual citizens, continue to cast a shadow on diplomatic relations. In response to the attack, Israel has killed nearly 45,000 people, predominantly civilians, and the Gaza Strip is largely in ruins. Meanwhile, Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff expressed concern last week during a visit to the region and warned of the consequences if the hostages are not released before Trump’s inauguration. Trump himself had already threatened tough measures in the event of a failed release. Efforts by Egypt, Qatar, and the US to negotiate a ceasefire with hostage release have gained momentum in recent weeks. The outgoing administration of President Joe Biden is also intensively involved in pursuing a solution. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan expressed optimism that an agreement could be imminent. In addition to the hostage issue, Trump and Netanyahu also addressed the situation in Syria following the fall of President Bashar al-Assad. Since then, Israel has conducted numerous attacks on strategic weapon depots in Syria to avert potential threats and prevent takeover by terrorist groups. The focus now is on the diplomatic negotiations, which not only set decisive courses for the Middle East but could also shape future US-Israeli cooperation.