On Thursday, it was reported that US President Donald Trump has chosen to sever direct communication with Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel. The deterioration in the relationship between the US and Israel seems to stem from Netanyahu's administration's inability to provide a definitive proposal concerning Gaza, as well as a lack of a clear strategy and timeline regarding Iran and the Houthis in Yemen. Some reports suggest that people around Trump told him that "Netanyahu was manipulating him."

"Netanyahu is trapped," said Eytan Gilboa, an expert on US-Israel relations at Bar-Ilan University near Tel Aviv. "He was banking on Israel's position relative to Iran to improve under Trump. In practice, it's the opposite."

Following Trump's announcement earlier this week of an alleged and mischaracterised truce with the Houthis, it would appear that on Thursday, the US President entertained a discreet meeting with Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, in the presence of Vice President JD Vance, State's Secretary  Rubio, and White House envoy Steve Witkoff. President Trump will begin his first major three-day diplomatic trip next week, visiting three Middle Eastern countries starting in Saudi Arabia. followed by Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. Trump said Tuesday during a swearing-in ceremony for White House envoy Steve Witkoff that he had no intention to stop in Israel during his trip, a move which is likely to limit Israel's influence on the U.S. approach to nuclear talks with Iran.