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Rabat – US President Donald Trump is set to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago property in Florida, with talks expected to focus on the fragile ceasefire in Gaza, including the second phase, and growing concerns over Iran.
According to a White House official speaking to NBC News, Trump hopes the meeting will help push forward the next phase of the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas.
The fragile truce came into effect in October to put an end to more than two years of genocidal war on Gaza. Still, the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) violated the agreement around 1,000 times. Israel killed more than 400 people in Gaza since the ceasefire began, according to local officials
In addition, progress has stalled on the second and more complex phase of the agreement. This phase is meant to include the withdrawal of Israeli Occupation Forces from Gaza and the disarmament of Hamas.
The UN Security Council approved last month Phase 2 of Trump’s 20-point “peace plan.” However, many details remain unclear. These include the role of the proposed “Board of Peace,” which would oversee Gaza’s governance, and an International Stabilization Force that would be deployed to the territory.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said earlier this month that Washington hopes to set up these new governance bodies “very soon.” Rubio is expected to meet Netanyahu before the Israeli leader’s talks with Trump.
While Gaza is expected to be a key topic, Iran will also feature heavily in the discussions. Netanyahu is expected to warn Trump about Iran’s expanding ballistic missile program, which Israel sees as a growing threat. Israeli officials believe Iran has been increasing missile production after earlier Israeli strikes damaged parts of the program.
Sources familiar with the matter say Netanyahu plans to present Trump with options for renewed military action, including possible US involvement or support, NBC reported. However, Trump may be hesitant. While the US and Israel carried out joint strikes on Iran’s nuclear enrichment facilities in June, Trump has recently suggested he could be open to renewed talks with Tehran, added the report.
