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Published 29 Dec, 2025 09:00am

Trump, Netanyahu to discuss next phase of Gaza plan

US President Donald Trump is expected to push for progress in the stalled ceasefire in Gaza when he meets Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, with talks also covering Israel’s concerns over Hezbollah in Lebanon and Iran.

Netanyahu said this month that Trump had invited him for talks as Washington pushes to establish transitional governance and an international security force for Gaza.

Trump has said he could meet Netanyahu soon, but the White House has not confirmed details.

Netanyahu, expected to visit Trump’s Mar-a-Lago beach club, said the discussions would cover the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire, Iran and Lebanon.

Washington brokered ceasefires on all three fronts, but Israel is wary of its foes rebuilding their forces after being weakened in the war.

All sides agreed in October to Trump’s ceasefire plan, which calls for Israel to withdraw from Gaza and Hamas to give up its weapons and governing role.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington wants the proposed transitional administration — a Board of Peace and Palestinian technocrats — in place soon before the deployment of an international security force mandated by a November 17 UN Security Council resolution.

Israel and Hamas accuse each other of major breaches and remain far from accepting the tougher next steps.

Hamas has refused to disarm and has not returned the remains of the last Israeli hostage, while Israeli troops remain in about half of Gaza.

Israel has warned it will resume military action if Hamas does not disarm. Fighting has eased but not stopped; since the October ceasefire began, Israeli strikes have killed more than 400 Palestinians, most civilians according to Gaza health officials, while Palestinian militants have killed three Israeli soldiers.

In Lebanon, a US-backed November 2024 ceasefire ended more than a year of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah and required Hezbollah’s disarmament in the south.

Lebanon says it is close to completing the mission, but Hezbollah has resisted. Israel says progress is slow and continues near-daily strikes to stop Hezbollah rebuilding.

Iran, which fought a 12-day war with Israel in June, recently conducted missile exercises for the second time in a month.

Netanyahu said Israel is not seeking confrontation but will raise Iran’s activities with Trump.

Trump ordered US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites in June but has since raised the possibility of a deal with Tehran.

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