President Donald Trump heads to the Middle East for peace deals and business negotiations, even as tensions allegedly rise with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The National News Desk spoke to Middle East expert Dan Raviv about the president's trip, the release of Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander and why Israel has been left off the trip itinerary.

The White House has called Trump’s visit a “historic return to the Middle East” but Israel is once again not on the itinerary.

After ending a ceasefire two months ago, Israel is intensifying the war in the Gaza Strip, where a blockade on food, medicine and other supplies is worsening a humanitarian crisis. And Iran, an enemy of Israel and a rival of Saudi Arabia, stands on the cusp of being able to develop nuclear weapons.

Trump to visit Middle East this week for summit with Gulf leaders US President Donald Trump is headed to the Middle East this week to hold a summit with Gulf state leaders. It is his first official foreign trip and it highlights the Trump administration's growing focus on economic cooperation with Gulf nations.