Trump to host Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu at Mar-a-Lago amid Gaza ceasefire talks
Donald Trump is set to host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida on Monday, marking their fifth meeting this year. The discussions come amid ongoing concerns about the fragile Gaza truce plan and the stalled implementation of the second phase of Trump’s 20-point ceasefire blueprint. The Gaza ceasefire, reached in October, ended a two-year war and saw Israeli forces pull back alongside the release of nearly all hostages by Hamas. However, fears persist of potential new Israeli offensives against Hezbollah in Lebanon or Iran, and the White House remains concerned about delays from both Israel and Hamas in executing the second phase of the ceasefire plan. Reports indicate Netanyahu requested the talks, possibly aiming to shift focus toward Iran, and Trump may use the meeting to advocate for increased US strikes on Iran. Additionally, Trump is reportedly preparing to announce plans to establish a Palestinian technocratic government for Gaza and deploy an international stabilization force. A Gaza Board of Peace, to be chaired by Trump, is expected to be unveiled at the Davos summit in January. Earlier this month, Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner hosted mediators from Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey in Miami to prepare for further Gaza negotiations. This visit follows Trump hosting Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy the previous day, highlighting the US administration's focus on resolving international conflicts.
