Trump’s Speech to Israel’s Parliament: A Turning Point in the Gaza Conflict

Senior Researcher Azriel Bermant noted that Trump’s strong position on ending the war in Gaza and securing the release of hostages put significant pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “Donald Trump put Netanyahu in the corner, pressured him. Netanyahu wanted to keep the war in Gaza going, he didn’t want to end the war, he was afraid that once the war ends, he will face a reckoning,” he explained.

According to him, Trump’s intervention came after a failed Israeli attack in Qatar, which he described as a key turning point. “Netanyahu simply went too far, and this was an attack on the US ally, but it was also an attack on the negotiations to end the war and get the hostages released,” Bermant said. He added that Trump’s decision to call for an end to the war was influenced by embarrassment over this incident and the desire to restore diplomatic momentum.

In the interview, Bermant also pointed to Trump’s broader strategy of leveraging relations with countries like Qatar, Turkey, and Egypt, as well as his apparent intent to revive the regional normalisation process with Arab states. Despite scepticism over long-term peace prospects, he suggested that Israel stands to gain more from regional cooperation than continued conflict.

He also further reflected on the changing political landscape in Israel, noting Netanyahu’s declining popularity and Trump’s awareness of it. As Bermant observed, Trump’s speech, though full of praise for Netanyahu, also hinted at the possibility of future leadership change.

You can listen to the full interview with Dr Azriel Bermant on LBC.