Trump and Netanyahu Convene to Salvage Stalled Gaza Ceasefire Phase Two

2025-12-29 politics

Washington D.C., Monday, 29 December 2025.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in Florida on December 28, 2025, for a high-stakes summit with President Donald Trump scheduled for Monday, December 29. The meeting is critical for unlocking ‘Phase Two’ of the US-backed 20-point Gaza peace plan, which remains deadlocked over issues of Palestinian governance and Hamas disarmament. Most intriguingly, reports suggest a widening rift between Netanyahu and Trump’s top advisors, leaving the President as the Prime Minister’s sole remaining ally in the White House to push the deal forward. With the ceasefire fragile, winter flooding worsening humanitarian conditions in Khan Younis, and renewed missile threats from Iran and Hezbollah, this diplomatic engagement represents a pivotal effort to stabilize the region before the new year.

Phase Two: The Diplomatic Stumbling Block

The primary objective of the summit at Mar-a-Lago is to resuscitate the stalled “Phase Two” of the US administration’s 20-point peace plan for Gaza [3][5]. While the first phase of the agreement is reportedly near completion, progress has halted over the contentious specifics of long-term governance and security [3]. The White House is pushing for the installation of a Palestinian technocratic government, which would operate under the oversight of a Trump-led “Board of Peace” and be supported by an International Stabilization Force mandated by the U.N. Security Council [5][6][7]. However, Prime Minister Netanyahu has expressed deep skepticism regarding these arrangements, specifically the composition of the technocratic government and the involvement of Turkey and Qatar in the post-war landscape [6]. The timeline for disarmament presents another significant hurdle; while the US plan demands rapid demilitarization, experts warn that disarming militant groups like Hamas is a complex process that could span 7 to 8 years, drawing on historical precedents from Northern Ireland and Colombia [3].

Fractures in the President’s Inner Circle

Behind the diplomatic pleasantries, reports indicate a significant erosion of support for Netanyahu among President Trump’s closest aides. Sources within the administration suggest that key figures—including Vice President J.D. Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and senior advisors Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff—have grown frustrated with the Israeli Prime Minister, leaving President Trump as his primary advocate within the West Wing [6]. A senior Israeli official described the Mar-a-Lago meeting as “crucial,” noting that Netanyahu is effectively trying to convince a “one-man audience” in the President, distinct from the consensus of his advisors [6]. This friction was palpable following a meeting in Miami on December 19, 2025, where Kushner and Witkoff engaged with officials from Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey—a gathering that Israeli officials viewed with suspicion [6]. Before sitting down with the President at 3:30 PM EST today, Netanyahu is scheduled to meet separately with Secretary Rubio, a meeting likely to set the tone for the difficult negotiations to follow [5][8].

A Region on the Brink: Humanitarian and Security Crises

The diplomatic urgency is compounded by a deteriorating situation on the ground in Gaza. Winter storms have caused severe flooding in tent camps for displaced Palestinians in Khan Younis, exacerbating a humanitarian crisis where the death toll has continued to rise despite the nominal ceasefire declared two months ago [3][7]. Both Israel and Hamas have accused one another of violating the initial terms of the truce; Israel cites Hamas’s refusal to disarm and return the body of Master Sgt. Ran Gvili, while Hamas points to the continued closure of the Rafah Crossing and the presence of Israeli troops in half the territory [5][7]. Since the ceasefire officially began in October 2025, violence has persisted, with over 400 Palestinians and three Israeli soldiers killed [7]. Concurrently, Defense Minister Israel Katz briefly ignited tensions by suggesting a re-establishment of settlements in Gaza—a stance conflicting with the US plan—though he later walked back the comments to focus on a permanent military presence [4].

Beyond Gaza: The Iranian and Lebanese Dimensions

While Gaza dominates the immediate agenda, the summit will also address broader regional threats. Netanyahu intends to pivot discussions toward Iran, following a 12-day war between Israel and Iran in June 2025 and recent missile exercises conducted by Tehran [4][7]. There are growing concerns in Jerusalem that Iran is rebuilding its ballistic missile production capabilities [5]. Additionally, the stability of the northern front remains precarious; a ceasefire with Hezbollah established in November 2024 is under strain as the deadline for the group’s disarmament approaches at the end of the year [5][7]. Israel has threatened to resume hostilities if the Lebanese government fails to meet this US-imposed deadline, adding another layer of volatility to the President’s ambitious timeline for a comprehensive regional peace [5].

Future Outlook

President Trump is eager to break the deadlock, with plans to make significant announcements regarding Gaza in early January, potentially utilizing the World Economic Forum in Davos as a stage to convene the Board of Peace [6]. However, the path forward is fraught with political landmines. Netanyahu faces a cynical domestic coalition that is effectively annexing the West Bank through settlement expansion, a move that contradicts the President’s stated policy against annexation [3]. With the Prime Minister scheduled to remain in the US until January 2, 2026, meeting with Evangelical leaders and Jewish community figures in Florida, the coming days will determine whether the personal bond between the two leaders can overcome the widening strategic divergence between their respective governments [5][8].

Sources

Geopolitics Diplomacy