Trump and Netanyahu in the Oval Office(Official White House Photo by D. Myles Cullen)
by Emmitt Barry, with reporting from Worthy News Jerusalem Bureau Staff
(Worthy News) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet U.S. President Donald Trump on Dec. 29 to determine the next steps of the Gaza ceasefire plan, Israeli government spokesperson Shosh Bedrosian said Monday during an online briefing.
“The prime minister will meet with President Trump on Monday, Dec. 29. They will discuss the future steps and phases and the international stabilization force of the ceasefire plan,” Bedrosian stated. The meeting is expected to take place at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.
The encounter comes as the U.S. prepares to unveil Phase Two of its 20-point peace framework for Gaza—though multiple political, military, and diplomatic complications remain unresolved.
Phase Two Uncertain as Details Remain Unsettled
Speaking Sunday in Jerusalem alongside German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Netanyahu said the second phase of the plan was “close,” but emphasized several unresolved issues, including whether an international force could realistically deploy into Gaza to oversee demilitarization.
“What will be the timeline? What are the forces that are coming in? Will we have international forces? If not, what are the alternatives?” Netanyahu asked. “These are all topics that are being discussed.”
To date, no country has volunteered troops for an anti-Hamas security mission. Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov said Monday his government lacks essential clarity about the mission’s mandate, “rendering any decision on Azerbaijani military participation premature.”
Netanyahu warned that an international force, even if approved, likely cannot carry out the core mission of stripping Hamas of its weapons.
Since the ceasefire began in October, Hamas has managed to reorganize in the areas of Gaza not under Israeli control, further complicating prospects for demilitarization.
Hostage Remains and Phase Two Delays
Israel retains control of 53% of Gaza under Phase One, which also saw hostage releases exchanged for Palestinians convicted of terrorism. The final case remains unresolved: the return of the body of Israel Police Master Sgt. Ran Gvili, killed on Oct. 7 defending Kibbutz Alumim.
Trump’s original plan required all captives to be returned before Phase Two could begin. Israeli officials have urged the White House to delay any announcement until Gvili’s remains are recovered.
A recent IDF sweep of Gaza City’s Zeitoun neighborhood yielded no findings. On Monday, Gvili’s family confronted U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Mike Waltz, urging the U.S. to halt progress toward Phase Two. Waltz expressed support for ongoing retrieval efforts but did not commit to delaying the plan’s rollout.
Trump–Netanyahu Agenda: Gaza, Iran, Hezbollah, and Regional Peace
Beyond Gaza, the two leaders are expected to discuss a wide range of regional security issues, including:
• Iran’s renewed weapons development
• Hezbollah’s continued armament in Lebanon
• Security arrangements in Syria
• Opportunities for new peace and normalization agreements with Arab and Muslim states
Netanyahu said Israel remains committed to pursuing “a broader peace with Arab states” while maintaining unbroken security control in the West Bank.
Trump has previously assured Muslim leaders that Israel would not formally annex the West Bank. Netanyahu acknowledged Monday that the “question of political annexation remains a subject of discussion.”
The Dec. 29 meeting will mark Netanyahu’s sixth with President Trump, and may prove pivotal as the U.S., Israel, and regional partners attempt to determine whether Phase Two of the Gaza plan is feasible—and if so, who will enforce it.
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