Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has formally nominated U.S. President Donald Trump for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize, presenting Trump with a signed letter to the Norwegian Nobel Committee during a White House dinner on 7 July. In the document, dated 1 July, Netanyahu credits Trump with “creating new opportunities to expand the circle of peace,” citing the 2020 Abraham Accords and more recent diplomatic efforts in the Middle East. The gesture came as the two leaders discussed a U.S.-brokered proposal for a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza that would pause Israel’s 21-month campaign against Hamas and secure the release of some 50 remaining Israeli hostages. White House Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff is travelling to Qatar this week to push the negotiations forward. Trump also told reporters that Iran had agreed to resume nuclear talks following a 12-day Israel-Iran conflict in June that ended under U.S. pressure. Under Nobel statutes, nominations must be submitted by 1 February to be eligible for that year’s award, meaning Netanyahu’s recommendation will be considered for the 2026 prize. Trump has been proposed several times before by U.S. lawmakers and foreign officials, but the committee discloses neither the full list of nominees nor its deliberations for 50 years. Netanyahu’s public endorsement underlines the close political alignment between Washington and Jerusalem even as fighting continues in Gaza and ceasefire efforts remain uncertain. For Trump, the nomination bolsters his long-standing bid for recognition on the world stage, though the final decision rests with the five-member Norwegian committee expected to announce its 2026 choice next October.