Trump, Netanyahu to Discuss Next Phase of Gaza Plan

Netanyahu said this month that Trump invited him for talks at a time when Washington is trying to establish an interim administration and an international security force for the Palestinian region.

Trump said he could meet with the Israeli leader soon, but the White House did not confirm the details. The White House did not respond to a request for comment about the meeting.

Netanyahu, who is expected to visit Trump’s Mar-a-Lago beach club, said in a statement on December 22 that the talks are expected to include Iran and Lebanon, as well as the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire.

Washington has brokered ceasefires on all three fronts, but Israel is wary of its enemies rebuilding their forces after being significantly weakened in the war.

NEXT STEPS IN THE GAZA ceasefire plan

All parties agreed in October to Trump’s ceasefire plan, which calls for Israel to withdraw from Gaza and for Hamas to lay down its weapons and give up its governing role in the region.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said last week that Washington wants the interim administration envisioned in Trump’s plan — a body composed of the Peace Board and Palestinian technocrats — to take office soon to govern Gaza before the deployment of the international security force authorized by the Nov. 17 U.N. Security Council resolution.

But Israel and Hamas have accused each other of gross violations of the agreement and are no closer to agreeing to the much tougher steps envisaged for the next phase.

Hamas, which has refused to disarm and return the remains of the last Israeli hostage, is regaining control as Israeli troops remain entrenched in about half of the area.

Israel stated that if Hamas is not disarmed peacefully, it will continue military operations to ensure this.

Although the conflicts decreased, they did not stop completely. Although the ceasefire officially began in October, Israeli attacks have killed more than 400 Palestinians, mostly civilians, according to Gaza health officials, and Palestinian militants have also killed three Israeli soldiers.

LEBANON ceasefire was also tested

The US-backed ceasefire agreed to in Lebanon in November 2024 ended more than a year of conflict between Israel and Hezbollah and required the disarmament of the powerful Iran-backed Shiite group, starting with areas south of the river adjacent to Israel.

Although Lebanon has said it is close to completing the mission to disarm Hezbollah by the end of the year, the group has resisted calls to lay down its weapons.

Israel says progress has been partial and slow, and that Hezbollah is launching almost daily attacks on Lebanon in an attempt to prevent its reconstruction.

Iran, which entered into a 12-day war with Israel in June, announced last week that it conducted missile drills for the second time this month. Netanyahu said that Israel does not intend to confront Iran, but that it is aware of the reports and that Tehran will increase its activities with Trump.

In June, Trump ordered a US strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities but has since toyed with a possible deal with Tehran.