As US President Donald Trump departs for the Gulf region, the US-Hamas deal for the release of the last American hostage, Edan Alexander, on Monday highlights growing rifts between the Trump administration and the Netanyahu government on several issues.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office acknowledged on Monday that Israel did not participate in the negotiations leading to Alexander’s release, drawing the ire of hostage families who believe Trump is more committed to securing a hostage-release and Gaza ceasefire deal than the Israeli premier.

Professor Eytan Gilboa of Bar Ilan and Reichman universities, an expert on Israel-US relations, told Al-Monitor: “Trump must have reached the conclusion that Netanyahu stands in his way on realizing his vision for the Middle East. We see that in the way Trump approached the release of Alexander, but also on a multiple of other fronts, be it the war in Gaza, the Iran talks or the Houthi threat.”

According to Gilboa, Trump is a true supporter of Israel and the Israeli people, but not necessarily of Prime Minister Netanyahu or his government. “In that respect, the Trump administration resembles the Biden administration,” he said, emphasizing that the two countries are currently facing a diplomatic crisis.