Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to hold a critical meeting with United States President Donald Trump in Florida on Monday, December 29. This high-stakes discussion, confirmed by an Israeli official to AFP, is seen as vital for determining the next phases of the fragile ceasefire plan in the Gaza Strip.
A Pivotal Summit for Regional Stability
This visit marks Netanyahu's fifth trip to the United States to see the key ally Trump within this year alone. The timing is significant, as the Trump administration and regional mediators are pushing to advance to the second stage of the truce between Israel and Hamas. The Israeli official stated on Saturday that Netanyahu would depart for the US on December 28, with the meeting set for the following day at an unspecified location in Florida.
President Trump had hinted at the meeting in mid-December, telling reporters before heading to his Mar-a-Lago resort that Netanyahu "would like to see me" during the Christmas holidays. According to Israel's Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper, the leaders are expected to cover a broad spectrum of regional issues. The agenda will likely include Iran, potential Israel-Syria security agreements, the ceasefire with Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the crucial next stages of the Gaza deal.
Gaza Ceasefire: A Process 'Going Nowhere'?
Experts highlight that the meeting's timing is "very significant" for Gaza. Gershon Baskin, co-head of the peacebuilding Alliance for Two States, explained to AFP that the first phase of the ceasefire is essentially over, with only one remaining Israeli hostage issue. "Phase two has to begin, it's even late," Baskin said, adding that Hamas has had too much time to regroup—a situation Washington does not want to cement.
Progress on the second phase of the October ceasefire agreement, brokered by Washington and allies, has been sluggish. Both sides accuse each other of frequent violations, and mediators suspect both Israel and Hamas are stalling. The next stages envision an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza positions, an interim authority replacing Hamas, and the deployment of an international stabilisation force (ISF). A major sticking point remains a provision for Hamas to disarm.
A recent Axios report, citing White House officials, stated the Trump administration wants to announce the new Palestinian technocratic government for Gaza and the ISF swiftly. The report noted growing exasperation among senior US officials as Netanyahu has taken steps perceived as undermining the ceasefire and stalling the peace process.
"There are more and more signs that the American administration is getting frustrated with Netanyahu," affirmed Yossi Mekelberg, a Middle East expert at Chatham House. "The question is what it's going to do about it, because phase two is right now going nowhere."
Iran: The Prime Agenda Item for Netanyahu
While the US seeks progress on Gaza, analysts believe Netanyahu will aim to shift focus toward Iran's rebuilding of its nuclear program and ballistic missile capabilities. Baskin suggested that recent Israeli media reports on Iran's missile buildup are part of a "planned strategy of deflecting attention from Gaza to the issue that Netanyahu loves to talk about which is Iran."
The backdrop includes Israeli strikes on Iranian sites in June, which triggered a 12-day war involving Iranian drone and missile strikes on Israel and subsequent US-Israeli targeting of Iranian nuclear facilities. Mekelberg concurred that Netanyahu might be trying to pivot the conversation from Gaza to Iran. With Israel entering an election year, Mekelberg said Netanyahu would be in a defensive mode during the Trump meeting, aiming to "minimise what can be difficult for him coming back home." He concluded, "Everything is connected to staying in power" for the long-time Israeli leader.
