Haaretz: US threatens to sideline Israel from Saudi deal over Gaza war

The administration of US President Donald Trump is applying significant pressure on Israel to move forward with a ceasefire agreement with Hamas ahead of Trump's upcoming trip to the Middle East.

According to the source familiar with the matter, quoted by Haaretz, the Trump administration regards reaching an agreement as a matter of urgent strategic priority.

The message being conveyed to the Israeli leadership is clear: if Israel does not proceed toward an agreement in coordination with the United States, it risks finding itself isolated. The Office of Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, a close advisor to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, declined to comment officially on the situation.

President Trump is expected to begin his regional tour on May 13. His itinerary includes high-level visits to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, where he is expected to continue promoting his broader regional vision, including normalisation with Saudi Arabia.

Meanwhile, additional details emerged regarding a recent meeting between a senior US official and the families of Israeli hostages held in Gaza. The official in question was Steve Witkoff, a close Trump ally and prominent figure within the administration. During the meeting, Witkoff issued a stark warning about the consequences of continued military operations, saying that they posed a direct threat to the lives of the hostages.

According to a report by Israel's Channel 12, Witkoff told the families: "If until now it was the hostages who paid the price for the continuation of the war, from now on it will be Israel that pays the price — and a much higher one, not only the hostages. President Trump is determined to advance an agreement with Saudi Arabia — even without Israel’s participation."

A source told Haaretz that Witkoff’s criticism of the Israeli government's conduct was made public with his full knowledge and approval. Nevertheless, Witkoff’s office denied claims that the Trump administration was directly pressuring Israel to finalise a deal with Hamas.

Channel 12 further reported that Witkoff continued his remarks to the hostage families, stating:
"The ceasefire agreement with the Houthis is just a prelude. If Israel doesn’t come to its senses, even the ‘Deal of the Century’ — the agreement with Saudi Arabia — will be finalised without it. We hope Israel will manage to jump onto this historic train, which has already left the station, but the United States will not be waiting on the platform."

By Tamilla Hasanova