Trump and Netanyahu reportedly clash over Iran strikes and Gaza plan

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump reportedly had a sharp dispute during a phone call over the possibility of launching new strikes on Iran.

Operative Information Center-OMM reports, citing Lenta.ru, that the Israeli outlet Ynet published the report.

Ynet sources said the two leaders had serious disagreements over further military action against the Islamic Republic of Iran. One source described the call as a “hellish argument at high volume.”

However, the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office promptly rejected the reports, saying the phone call had been “completely calm.” A senior Israeli official also confirmed that the call took place but said it was not tense.

The Financial Times had previously reported that Netanyahu was calling Trump almost daily to ask for the resumption of military operations against Iran.

During the phone call, Trump urged Netanyahu to begin implementing a peace plan for the Gaza Strip. Washington wants concrete steps to carry out a plan that calls for Hamas to disarm, the enclave to be demilitarized and Gaza’s administration to be transferred to a new Palestinian technocratic government.

The Gaza roadmap had been put on hold because of elections in Israel scheduled for October 27. The White House did not want the plan to become a tool for political maneuvering during the election campaign. Trump’s administration now intends to move the process forward regardless of who forms the government. On November 7, Israeli President Isaac Herzog tasked opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot with forming a government, and Washington is reportedly in contact with Eisenkot to prevent Netanyahu from returning to power.

Large-scale military operations by the United States and Israel against Iran have been underway for 256 days. Amid the conflict, which began on February 28, Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz and halted oil and gas exports. The parties signed a memorandum of understanding in Islamabad in June, but on July 8 the United States accused Iran of violating the agreement and resumed strikes.