Florida, USA — U.S. President Donald Trump is set to host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate on December 29 to discuss the next phase of the Gaza ceasefire plan, a pivotal diplomatic push by Washington and Tel Aviv to stabilize the war-torn region. This high-stakes meeting comes as leaders weigh progress amid delays and wider Middle East tensions.
The centerpiece of discussions will be advancing the Gaza ceasefire plan’s second phase, which requires further Israeli military withdrawal, Hamas disarmament, and the potential deployment of an international stabilization force to monitor peace and reconstruction efforts. U.S. and regional negotiators, including Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, have been trying to resolve remaining obstacles to formalize the transition.
“Phase two” of the ceasefire agreement, brokered in October, envisions a transitional governance structure in Gaza, overseen by technocrats, and eventual steps toward long-term security arrangements, but disagreements persist over the sequencing of troop withdrawals and militant disarmament.
Amid mounting regional pressure to advance the peace process, neighboring nations continue planning for implementation timelines. For instance, Turkey expects the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire to start in early 2026, highlighting international momentum behind a durable ceasefire and governance shift.
Netanyahu arrives in Florida with a mixed agenda: securing continued U.S. backing while also pushing for cooperation on broader security concerns including Iran’s missile activities and spillover tensions with Hezbollah in Lebanon. Trump and Netanyahu are expected to address these intertwined issues in their summit.
Analysts say that success in these talks could set the tone for the ceasefire plan’s implementation early next year, potentially unlocking reconstruction and humanitarian efforts long demanded by international partners and aid groups.
