Overview
- Trump and Netanyahu meet at Mar-a-Lago at 1 p.m. local time as a fragile Gaza truce holds with reported violations and slow movement toward the ceasefire’s second phase.
- Phase two of Trump’s U.N.-backed plan envisages Israeli withdrawals, a Palestinian technocratic committee overseen by a Trump-chaired Board of Peace, deployment of an International Stabilization Force, and Hamas disarmament.
- Senior U.S. officials, according to Axios and AP reporting, are frustrated with perceived Israeli delays and had hoped to announce the technocratic team and ISF as early as January.
- Netanyahu is expected to present intelligence that Iran is rebuilding ballistic missile capabilities and to seek U.S. backing or authorization for potential action, with Hezbollah and Lebanon also on the agenda.
- Talks follow mediator meetings led by Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, as hurdles persist over Israel’s vetting of Palestinian technocrats, continued strikes, and disagreement over the ISF mandate feared by potential troop contributors.