Trump pressures Netanyahu over Gaza peace plan, sparking sharp US‑Israel tension

A newly released book, "The Regime Change" by Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan, reveals a heated September 2025 phone call between U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Trump, joined by son‑in‑law Jared Kushner and special envoy Steve Witkoff, told Netanyahu that the United States had lost the support of much of the international and Jewish communities and pressed him to accept a 20‑point Washington‑drafted Gaza peace plan. The conversation followed an Israeli strike on Qatar and preceded a formal peace agreement announced two days later, with the two leaders appearing together at a press conference.

Trump later reiterated his frustration at a G7 summit in France, saying, "When two drones are shot down in the desert without causing damage, there is no need to demolish buildings in Beirut," and warned that Israel’s security depended critically on U.S. backing. U.S. Vice‑President JD Vance also criticized hard‑line Israeli officials, emphasizing the size of U.S. military aid.

The disclosure highlights growing strain in the U.S.–Israel partnership despite the public display of cooperation.