US President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, as Washington seeks to generate momentum for a Gaza ceasefire at risk of stalling before entering a complicated second phase.
Trump aims to use his relationship with Netanyahu to accelerate the peace process, as the Israeli leader has faced accusations of not moving quickly enough.
The meeting marks their sixth since Trump returned to office in January and their first face-to-face encounter since Trump travelled to Israel in October to mark the start of the ceasefire's initial phase.
Trump's Gaza ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has largely held, but progress has slowed. While both sides accuse each other of violations, international pressure has focused primarily on Tel Aviv. Divisions have emerged between the US, Israel and Arab countries regarding the path forward.
The ceasefire's first phase began in October, around the second anniversary of the Hamas-led 7 October attack on southern Israel.
The second phase involves Trump's 20-point plan, already approved by the UN Security Council, which envisions ending Hamas rule of Gaza.
What is in the ceasefire's second phase?
The second phase proposes rebuilding a demilitarised Gaza under international supervision by a group chaired by Trump called the Board of Peace.
Palestinians would form a "technocratic, apolitical" committee to run Gaza's daily affairs under Board of Peace supervision.
The plan calls for normalised relations between Israel and the Arab world and a possible pathway to Palestinian independence. However, thorny logistical and humanitarian questions remain, including rebuilding Gaza, disarming Hamas and establishing an International Stabilisation Force.
The Board of Peace would oversee Gaza's reconstruction under a two-year, renewable UN mandate. Members were expected to be named by year's end and could be revealed after Monday's meeting, although the announcement may be delayed until next month.
Netanyahu expressed scepticism over proposals from Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner, particularly regarding Gaza's demilitarisation, according to sources familiar with recent discussions.
The meeting follows Witkoff and Kushner's recent gathering in Florida with officials from Egypt, Qatar and Turkey, who have been mediating the ceasefire. The four countries serve as guarantors of the peace deal.
Iran is also expected to be on the agenda. Trump insists Tehran's nuclear capabilities were "completely and fully obliterated" following US strikes on its nuclear sites in June. However, Netanyahu maintains the threat persists and advocates for additional strikes.
Netanyahu visited Mar-a-Lago previously, including in July 2024 when Trump was seeking re-election. He was the first foreign leader to meet the US president at the White House during his second term.
