Trump and Netanyahu to discuss next phase of Gaza plan

US President Donald Trump is expected to press for progress in the stalled Gaza ceasefire when he meets Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, with talks also set to cover Israel’s concerns over Hezbollah in Lebanon and Iran.

Netanyahu has said Trump invited him for discussions as Washington seeks to advance plans for transitional governance and an international security force in Gaza. While the White House has not confirmed details of the meeting, Netanyahu said the talks—expected to take place at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort—will focus on the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire, as well as developments in Iran and Lebanon.

The United States brokered ceasefires involving Gaza, Lebanon and Iran-related tensions, but Israel remains wary of its adversaries rebuilding their capabilities after being weakened during the conflict.

All sides agreed in October to Trump’s ceasefire framework, which calls for Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza and for Hamas to relinquish its weapons and forgo any governing role. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington wants a transitional administration, made up of Palestinian technocrats, to be established soon, ahead of deploying an international security force mandated by a UN Security Council resolution.

However, progress has stalled. Israel and Hamas have accused each other of serious violations, and Hamas has refused to disarm, while Israeli forces remain in roughly half of Gaza. Israel has warned it will resume military operations if Hamas does not disarm peacefully. Despite the ceasefire, violence has continued, with hundreds of Palestinians reported killed in Israeli strikes and several Israeli soldiers killed by militants.

In Lebanon, a US-backed ceasefire agreed in November 2024 ended more than a year of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah and called for the disarmament of the Iran-backed group. Lebanon says it is nearing completion of the process, but Hezbollah has resisted disarmament, prompting Israel to carry out near-daily strikes to prevent the group from regrouping.

Netanyahu has also said he plans to raise Iran’s recent missile exercises with Trump. While Israel says it is not seeking a confrontation with Tehran, Trump—who ordered US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites in June—has since indicated openness to a potential deal with Iran.