Netanyahu-Trump Florida Summit Targets Gaza Ceasefire Phase Two

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to hold high-stakes discussions with US President Donald Trump in Florida today, focusing on advancing the second phase of the fragile Gaza ceasefire amid growing White House impatience.

The meeting at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, scheduled for 1 p.m. local time (1800 GMT), comes as Trump pushes for rapid progress on the truce deal that began in October. Trump has reportedly initiated the talks at Netanyahu’s request, aiming to unveil plans as early as January for a Palestinian technocratic government in Gaza and the deployment of an international stabilization force (ISF).

Ceasefire Progress and Sticking Points
The initial phase of the agreement, hailed as a key achievement in Trump’s first year back in office, saw Hamas release nearly all hostages—both living and deceased—from its October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which killed around 1,200 people and sparked the war. Only one hostage’s body remains unreturned, per recent reports. Both sides have accused each other of repeated violations during this period.

Phase two demands Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza positions and Hamas’s full disarmament and demilitarization—demands that have stalled momentum. Israeli officials, including government spokeswoman Shosh Bedrosian, emphasize these steps as non-negotiable. An interim governing authority would oversee Gaza alongside the ISF, potentially drawn from Arab states and international partners.

Recent developments underscore the urgency. On December 28, Trump’s global envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner met senior officials from mediators Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey in Miami to sustain diplomatic pressure. Peace negotiator Gershon Baskin, co-head of the Alliance for Two States, warned that delays have allowed Hamas to regroup, telling AFP: “Phase two has to begin… it’s late.”

US Frustration Mounts
White House insiders express exasperation with perceived foot-dragging by both Israel and Hamas, according to Axios reports from December 26. Trump plans to chair a new “Gaza Board of Peace” at the January Davos forum, but officials fear Netanyahu is diverting focus. Middle East expert Yossi Mekelberg of Chatham House noted rising US frustration: “Phase two is right now going nowhere,” questioning Washington’s next moves.

Adding context, Netanyahu’s trip follows Trump’s Sunday meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at Mar-a-Lago on ending Russia’s invasion—highlighting Palm Beach as a hub for global diplomacy.

Iran Looms Large
Netanyahu aims to pivot discussions toward Iran, which both leaders view as a broader threat. Israel and the US struck Iran’s nuclear facilities in June 2025, but Jerusalem fears Tehran’s rebuilding efforts. Bedrosian said Netanyahu will stress Iran’s dangers to the Middle East and US homeland. Syria and ongoing Israeli strikes on Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon—despite a separate Lebanon ceasefire—will also feature.

This marks Netanyahu’s fifth US visit with Trump this year, amid his domestic political pressures entering Israel’s election cycle. Critics like Mekelberg suggest the Iran emphasis helps Netanyahu maintain power by broadening the security narrative.

ADVERTISEMENT

Background and Broader Implications
The Gaza war has claimed over 45,000 Palestinian lives, per Gaza health authorities, and displaced most of the territory’s 2.3 million residents. Turkey’s November 7 arrest warrants for Netanyahu and officials on genocide charges add legal tensions, though they hold little practical weight.

Trump’s team credits regional shuttle diplomacy for the October truce, but sustaining it tests US leverage. Success could reshape Middle East dynamics; failure risks renewed escalation.