Gaza: While hosting Netanyahu at Mar-a-Lago, Trump declares that the second phase of the peace plan would start “as quickly as we can”
Gaza: US President Donald Trump hosted at his Mar-a-Lago home in Florida for the second day in a row. Trump greeted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday (local time) after his peace negotiations with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy yesterday.
The consecutive encounters with the leaders of two war-torn countries—Israel, which has reached a peace deal, and Ukraine, which is still looking for one—mark a significant turning point in US diplomacy.
Trump said, “We have to have a peace plan for Gaza as quickly as we can, but there has to be a disarmament, we have to disarm with Hamas,” while standing outside his Mar-a-lago club and shaking hands with Netanyahu. One of the topics we shall discuss.
Israel is still conducting military operations in Gaza, and the situation in the area is still unclear months after a peace agreement was made in Egypt. Gaza’s future is in jeopardy despite the deal intended to bring about peace.
Additionally, Trump told reporters that Gaza’s restoration will “begin pretty soon.”
The second phase of the agreement, which involves disarming of Hamas, the beginning of rebuilding activities, and the creation of post-war administration, is anticipated to be the main topic of conversation when the two leaders meet. The establishment of a “Board of Peace,” headed by Trump and other international leaders, is a key component of the suggested strategy for running Gaza.
Netanyahu also spoke with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth before to his meeting with Trump.
Netanyahu posted on X after his meeting with Rubio, saying, “I had a great meeting in Florida with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.”
The diplomatic aspect of the meeting was highlighted by a video issued by the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office, which showed Netanyahu and Rubio shaking hands before settling down. The US and Israeli flags were flying in the background.
In addition to voicing worries over Iran’s developing ballistic missile program, Netanyahu’s visit demonstrates his ongoing outreach to the US administration in an effort to get a more robust American position against Hamas in Gaza. He has visited the US many times in the last year, officially hailing Trump as Israel’s greatest partner while secretly calling for more aggressive action against what Israel considers to be its main security challenges, according to CNN.
But compared to other meetings, the political context of this one seems more complicated. Trump, who has referred to himself as a president who prioritizes peace, has been more wary of certain Israeli military operations, such as attacks in Syria, in recent months. Additionally, he has continued to pay attention to domestic US sentiment, which has shown a lack of desire for increased US participation in another Middle Eastern war.