Netanyahu's White House Meeting

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has nominated President Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize for his mediator role in the Israel-Gaza conflict.

Prime Minister Netanyahu relayed the news to President during their meeting at the White House on July 7.

The meeting was expected to include discussions on a potential ceasefire in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, a war that is now approaching its second year.

During the dinner, Netanyahu presented Trump with a letter addressed to the Nobel Prize committee, saying

“I want to present to you, Mr President, the letter I sent to the Nobel Prize committee. It’s nominating you for the Peace Prize, which is well deserved, and you should get it.”

Gaza Relocation Plans Addressed

At the meeting, Trump was questioned by reporters about his previous suggestions to relocate Palestinians from Gaza to neighboring countries such as Jordan and Egypt.

Rather than answering directly, Trump passed on the question to prime Minister Netanyahu.

Netanyahu described the relocation as a free choice, where the people would be allowed to leave or come as they choose.

He added that Israel and the United States are working closely to identify countries willing to help provide Palestinians with a better future, and indicated that progress was being made in finding such partners.

These remarks came amid reports that Israel has plans to move all Palestinians in Gaza into a camp in the ruins of Rafah, a city in the southern Gaza Strip.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz previously explained that Palestinians would undergo “security screening” before entry and would not be permitted to leave once inside.

While the project has been described by some officials as a “humanitarian city,” it has faced criticism from legal experts and academics, who argue it could amount to ethnic cleansing.

Another Nomination from Pakistan

Trump expressed gratitude for Netanyahu’s nomination, saying,

“Coming from you in particular, this is very meaningful. Thank you very much, Bibi.”

This is not the only high-profile nomination Trump has received in recent months. In June, Pakistan announced its intention to nominate Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, citing his decisive diplomatic intervention and pivotal leadership during the recent India-Pakistan crisis.

This followed a ceasefire agreement between Pakistan and India after four days of conflict.

In his social media post, Trump credited the ceasefire to the work of the U.S. Saying

“I am proud that the USA was able to help you arrive at this historic and heroic decision.”

However, India rejected the notion of a U.S. mediation, insisting it does not want third-party involvement in its diplomatic affairs.

Trump also posted that despite his efforts to broker peace, he does not expect to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, remarking, “No, I won’t get a Nobel Peace Prize no matter what I do.”

How the Nobel Peace Prize Nomination Process Works

According to the Nobel Foundation, valid nominations for the Nobel Peace Prize can be submitted by members of national assemblies, state governments, international courts, university heads, professors in selected fields, and previous prize winners.

Nominations are typically kept confidential for 50 years, unless disclosed by the nominators themselves, as was the case with Netanyahu and the Pakistani government.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee, consisting of five appointed members who cannot hold political office in Norway, reviews nominations and creates a shortlist during a year-long secret selection process.

Winners are announced each October, with the prize—including a gold medal, diploma, and a cash award (recently valued at around US$1 million)—presented in December.

If there are multiple winners, the cash prize is divided among them.