Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s trip to Florida will be attended by the relatives of the hostage whose remains are still in the Gaza Strip while negotiations for his return are underway. According to Europa Press, this factor is central to the implementation of the next phase of the Gaza peace plan, as the agreement calls for the return of all hostages, living and deceased, before new diplomatic and security measures are taken. Netanyahu leads the Israeli delegation and will hold a prior meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio before meeting Donald Trump.
According to Europa Press, the President of the United States, Donald Trump, will receive Netanyahu this Monday at his residence in Mar-a-Lago, Florida. The aim of the meeting is to discuss the terms of the second phase of the peace plan in the Gaza Strip. This visit comes as a ceasefire, in effect since October 10, continues, amid mutual accusations between Israel and Hamas over alleged attempts to obstruct the agreed roadmap to end the conflict, which has resulted in more than 71,000 deaths and a serious deterioration in humanitarian conditions in Gaza in more than two years.
The development of the second phase of the agreement deals with sensitive issues such as the disarmament of the Palestinian militia Hamas and the eventual entry of an international force into the Gaza Strip with the aim of preventing new episodes of violence. Europa Press states that Hamas has shown no willingness to accept disarmament, blocking the start of this stage of the process until the full return of the hostages can be resolved. Israeli authorities have repeatedly accused the Palestinian organization of deliberately delaying this process, while Hamas denounces that Israeli procedures themselves make it difficult to recover the outstanding remains.
Media outlet Europa Press emphasizes that the diplomatic environment surrounding the conflict remains tense, partly due to Israel’s demand to continue attacks on Hamas infrastructure, especially after Israeli bombings of rocket depots recorded earlier this year. At the same time, official sources believe that the Iran issue will be on the agenda of the bilateral meeting, as Israel has concerns about Iranian influence in the region and its support for armed groups in Gaza.
The Mar-a-Lago mansion has already served as the site of relevant diplomatic meetings and in recent days was the site of a dialogue between Trump and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky. According to Europa Press, after the meeting both leaders assured that “peace in Ukraine is closer than ever.” This context underscores the current administration’s use of the Mar-a-Lago enclave as a reference point for key U.S. diplomatic initiatives.
The meeting between Trump and Netanyahu marks the sixth meeting between the two leaders since the American leader’s return this year, underscoring the priority given to the bilateral alliance and jointly addressing regional threats. Europa Press points out that the meeting becomes more important due to the presence of the relatives of the last detained hostage, who are accompanying the Israeli Prime Minister on this important visit in the Gaza negotiation process.
The effective implementation of the peace plan ultimately depends on resolving key disagreements between the parties involved, particularly over the role of international forces and Hamas’ position on disarmament demands. Europa Press reports that the second phase of the agreement cannot begin until these aspects are resolved and the return of all hostages is achieved. The talks at Mar-a-Lago could determine the course of the coming weeks and determine whether a resurgence of violence can be avoided or whether the peace process enters a new phase of stagnation.
According to Europa Press, in the context of the conflict, Israeli authorities and Hamas officials insist on blaming each other for the obstacles that hinder the progress of the agreement. The death toll in Gaza and the complex humanitarian situation are central aspects of international pressure to find an effective solution. The outcome of the meeting between Trump and Netanyahu could change both the immediate outlook in Gaza and the future relationship between Washington and Tel Aviv.
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