Washington: US President Donald Trump reportedly lashed out at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a phone call, telling him to stop being “so f***ing negative” as the two discussed Hamas’ response to Trump’s Gaza peace proposal. The heated exchange came after Hamas conveyed a conditional acceptance of Trump’s plan, which the US president viewed as a breakthrough toward ending the nearly two-year-long Gaza war. However, Netanyahu downplayed the development, insisting “there’s nothing to celebrate” and calling the response meaningless, according to a report by Axios.

Sources told the publication that Trump was frustrated by Netanyahu’s skepticism and urged him to “take the win,” emphasizing that the response from Hamas opened a window for peace. The Israeli leader, on the other hand, reportedly saw Hamas’ statement as a rejection and wanted both Washington and Tel Aviv to issue a clarification to prevent the perception that Hamas had agreed to the proposal. The call reflected Trump’s determination to push through Netanyahu’s reservations and secure a peace deal if Hamas follows through.

Shortly after the private call, Trump released a statement urging Israel to halt its air strikes in Gaza, and within hours, Netanyahu ordered a pause in operations. In an interview with Axios, Trump later confirmed that the two leaders were “close” to an understanding, calling it Netanyahu’s “chance for victory.” He said, “I told Bibi, this is your chance for victory. He was fine with it... He’s got to be fine with it. With me, you’ve got to be fine.”

Delegations from Hamas, Israel, and the United States are now set to convene in Egypt for high-level talks aimed at finalizing the first phase of the proposed deal. According to Hamas officials, the discussions in Cairo and Sharm El-Sheikh will focus on setting a date for a temporary truce and arranging the release of 47 hostages held in Gaza in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. Posting on Truth Social, Trump praised the “positive discussions with Hamas” and called on all parties to “MOVE FAST” to bring an end to the war.