Trump, Netanyahu to Talk Gaza in Florida

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet US President Donald Trump in Florida on Monday, with the US president pushing to move to the next stage of the fragile Gaza truce plan.

The crucial meeting at Trump’s lavish Mar-a-Lago resort comes as some White House officials fear both Israel and Hamas are slow-walking the second phase of their ceasefire.

Trump, who said Netanyahu had asked for the talks, is reportedly keen to announce a Palestinian technocratic government for Gaza and the deployment of an international stabilisation force. The two leaders are to meet at 1 pm (1800 GMT), the White House said.

Israeli government spokeswoman Shosh Bedrosian said Netanyahu would discuss the second phase, which involves making sure that “Hamas is disarmed, Gaza is demilitarised.”

Netanyahu would also bring up the “danger Iran poses not only to the region of the Middle East, but the United States as well,” Bedrosian said before flying out with the Israeli premier.

Netanyahu’s visit caps a frantic few days of international diplomacy in Palm Beach, where Trump hosted Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday for talks on ending Russia’s invasion.

The Gaza ceasefire in October is one of the major achievements of Trump’s first year back in power, but his administration and regional mediators want to keep the momentum going.

Trump, Netanyahu to Talk Gaza in Florida. Photo: Reuters

Trump’s global envoy, Steve Witkoff, and son-in-law, Jared Kushner, hosted senior officials from mediators Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey in Miami earlier this month.

The first phase of the truce deal saw Hamas release the remaining hostages, both dead and alive, from the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel. Hamas has returned all but the body of one hostage. Both sides allege frequent ceasefire violations. Under the second stage, Israel is supposed to withdraw from its positions in Gaza, while Hamas is supposed to lay down its weapons, a central sticking point for the Islamist movement.

An interim authority is meanwhile meant to govern the Palestinian territory, and the international stabilisation force (ISF) is to be deployed.

For his part, Netanyahu is set to focus with Trump on Iran’s nuclear program, which the United States and Israel struck in June but which Israel fears Tehran is rebuilding.

Israel is also continuing to strike Hamas targets in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon despite a ceasefire there. Syria will also be on the agenda.

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