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Netanyahu’s office denies speaking with Trump about hostage deal

Citing two U.S. sources, “Axios” reported that the two leaders were to discuss the proposed Gaza ceasefire.

Netanyahu Trump
Former President Donald Trump, also the current 2024 Republican presidential candidate, meets with Israel Prime Minister Benjamin at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Fla., on July 26, 2024. Credit: Amos Ben-Gershom/GPO.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office on Thursday morning denied reports of a phone call with former President Donald Trump the previous day.

Axios reporter Barak Ravid, citing two U.S. sources briefed on the supposed Trump-Netanyahu call, wrote that the 2024 Republican presidential candidate planned to discuss the proposed Gaza ceasefire and terrorists-for-hostages agreement with the prime minister.

One source told Ravid that Trump’s call was intended to encourage Netanyahu to accept the deal, but the source didn’t know whether this message was conveyed during their conversation.

According to the article, published online on Wednesday, the Prime Minister’s Office did not deny that the call took place. The Trump campaign declined to comment.

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