The Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin NetanyahuHe is meeting with the American President this Monday Donald Trump in Florida, amid pressure from Washington to advance the second phase of the fragile ceasefire plan in Gaza.
The meeting will take place at the residence of Mar-a-Lagoin Palm Beach, and is scheduled for 1 p.m. (local time), the White House said. The meeting comes as US officials express concern about possible delays by both Israel and Hamas in the next stage of the ceasefire.
Trump claimed the meeting was requested by Netanyahu and was trying to expedite key definitions before January, including the formation of a Palestinian Technocratic Government for Gaza and the use of one international stabilization forcesays reports in the American press.
Israeli government spokesman Shosh Bedrosiannoted that during the meeting, Netanyahu will discuss the second phase of the agreement, which includes ensuring that “Hamas is disarmed and Gaza is demilitarized“A new governance system for the Palestinian territory will also be considered at this stage.
However, sources cited by the AFP indicated that Netanyahu would try to steer some of the conversation toward that Iranat his fifth meeting this year with Trump in the US, with the aim of demanding a tougher stance from Washington towards Iran’s nuclear program.
Netanyahu also plans to warn about “the threat Iran poses not only to the Middle East region but also to the United States“said Bedrosian before he left for Florida with the Israeli head of government.
The visit is part of intense diplomatic activity in Palm Beach, where Trump hosted the Ukrainian president on Sunday. Volodymyr Zelenskyto deal with the conflict with Russia. The Gaza ceasefire reached in October is among the biggest achievements of Trump’s first year back in power, although his administration and regional mediators are trying to maintain momentum.
In this context, Trump’s global envoy said, Steve Witkoffand his son-in-law Jared Kushner They held meetings with senior officials in Miami earlier this month Qatar, Egypt And TürkiyeCountries participating in the process as mediators.
“The timing of the meeting with Netanyahu is very significant,” said Gershon Baskin, co-chair of the Peacebuilding Commission. Alliance for two stateswho took part in indirect negotiations with Hamas. “Phase two must begin“, he explained to the AFPHe added that he believes “Americans realize it is too late because Hamas has had too much time to reestablish its presence.”
The first phase of the ceasefire agreement included Hamas’s release of the remaining hostages, both alive and dead, captured during the massacre October 7, 2023 against Israel. The terrorist group returned all of its prisoners except for the body of one hostage, while both sides reported repeated ceasefire violations.
In the second phase, Israel must withdraw from its positions in Gaza and Hamas must lay down its arms, a point at which tensions rise. The plan also calls for the establishment of an interim Palestinian Authority and the deployment of the International Stabilization Force (ISF).
(With information from AFP)
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