Trump to Press Netanyahu on Gaza Ceasefire, Regional Security in High-Stakes Meeting

US President Donald Trump is expected to push for progress on the stalled Gaza ceasefire when he meets Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later today, with discussions also set to cover Israel’s concerns over Hezbollah in Lebanon and Iran, according to media reports.

The meeting will take place at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence at 1 pm local time. Netanyahu said earlier this month that Trump had invited him for talks as Washington seeks to advance plans for transitional governance and an international security force in Gaza — proposals Israel has been reluctant to fully endorse.

On December 22, Netanyahu said the agenda would include the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire, as well as developments involving Iran and Lebanon. The United States brokered ceasefire arrangements across all three fronts, though Israel remains wary that its adversaries could rebuild their military capabilities after being significantly weakened during the war.

What’s next for Gaza?

Israel and Hamas agreed in October to Trump’s framework to end the conflict in Gaza, which ultimately envisions Israel’s withdrawal from the territory and Hamas relinquishing its weapons and stepping aside from governance.

The first phase of the ceasefire included a limited Israeli pullback, increased humanitarian aid, and exchanges of hostages for Palestinian detainees and prisoners.

An Israeli official close to Netanyahu told Reuters that the prime minister will insist Hamas complete the first phase by returning the remains of the last Israeli hostage still held in Gaza before discussions can move to subsequent stages.

The family of the deceased hostage, Ran Gvili, has joined the Israeli delegation and is expected to meet senior officials in the Trump administration, which has signalled it wants the plan to advance in the coming weeks.

Israel has yet to open the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt — a key requirement under Trump’s proposal — saying it will do so only after Gvili’s remains are returned.

Washington’s position

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said last week that Washington wants the transitional administration outlined in Trump’s plan — including a Board of Peace and a body of Palestinian technocrats — to be established soon to govern Gaza, ahead of the deployment of an international security force mandated by a November 17 UN Security Council resolution.

However, Israel and Hamas have accused each other of serious violations of the ceasefire agreement and appear far apart on the more politically and militarily sensitive steps required in the next phase.

Hamas, which has refused to disarm, has been reasserting control in parts of Gaza even as Israeli forces remain deployed in roughly half the territory. Israel has warned it would resume military operations if Hamas does not agree to disarm through negotiations.

While large-scale fighting has eased, violence has not fully stopped. Since the ceasefire began in October, Israeli strikes have killed more than 400 Palestinians — mostly civilians, according to Gaza health officials — while Palestinian militants have killed three Israeli soldiers.