Meeting Between Trump and Netanyahu at Mar-a-Lago Focused on Gaza Peace Initiative

President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened at Trump's Mar-a-Lago retreat in Florida, aiming to advance discussions on the next phase of the Gaza peace strategy spearheaded by the Trump administration.

Ahead of Trump's discussion, Secretary of State Marco Rubio engaged with Netanyahu. This visit follows a week after key figures like U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and presidential advisor Jared Kushner held talks with officials from Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey to outline forthcoming steps in the peace effort. Hamas has been resistant, holding onto Israeli hostage remains and prompting recent Israeli responses in Gaza.

The initial phase of the peace initiative aimed at instituting a ceasefire, returning hostages, and delivering humanitarian aid. However, progressing to the subsequent phase, which involves disarming terrorist factions and transitioning governance to diminish Hamas's influence, remains a challenge.

This effort follows intense hostilities initiated by Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel in October 2023, which resulted in over a thousand casualties and hundreds taken hostage.

This marks the sixth encounter between President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu since Trump assumed office earlier.

Prior to this meeting, Trump convened with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at Mar-a-Lago, striving to mediate peace between Ukraine and Russia. Though an understanding seems close, Russian President Vladimir Putin remains held on territorial claims, challenging progress towards peace.

President Trump continues to balance diplomatic negotiations with leisure, planning to resume his duties in the White House post-New Year celebrations.