Netanyahu to Meet Trump in Florida Amid Push for Next Phase of Gaza Ceasefire

Dec 2025 : Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to depart for the United States and will meet President Donald Trump in Florida a day later, according to an Israeli official quoted. This will mark Netanyahu’s fifth visit to the United States this year to meet Trump, reflecting the intensity of diplomatic engagement between the two leaders amid continuing tensions in West Asia.

The visit comes at a critical juncture, as the Trump administration, along with regional mediators, is pressing to advance to the second phase of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. While the ceasefire, brokered earlier, has held so far, progress toward its next stage has been slow and the situation on the ground remains fragile.

According to Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth, the Trump–Netanyahu meeting is expected to cover a broad range of regional and strategic issues. These include Iran’s regional role, ongoing discussions around a possible Israel–Syria security arrangement, the ceasefire with Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the future roadmap for the Gaza ceasefire deal.

Under the proposed second phase of the Gaza agreement, Israel is expected to withdraw from its military positions within the territory. Governance of Gaza would shift to an interim authority, replacing Hamas, while an International Stabilisation Force (ISF) would be deployed to help maintain security. A key and contentious element of this phase is the provision requiring Hamas to disarm—an issue that has emerged as one of the biggest obstacles to forward movement.

US news outlet Axios reported that the meeting between Trump and Netanyahu is considered crucial for unlocking the next steps of the agreement. Citing White House officials, the report said the Trump administration is keen to announce the formation of a Palestinian technocratic government for Gaza, along with the deployment framework for the ISF, at the earliest possible stage.

However, the report also noted growing frustration within senior levels of the Trump administration. According to Axios, US officials believe Netanyahu has taken actions that risk undermining the already fragile ceasefire and delaying momentum in the broader peace process. Against this backdrop, the Florida meeting is being closely watched as a potential turning point in determining whether the Gaza ceasefire can progress beyond its initial phase.

Team Maverick.