Netanyahu Goes to Mar-a-Lago

courtesy AP

President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have held their most recent high-profile meeting at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate, a face-to-face encounter that took place in late December 2025.  

The meeting came after the initial phase of the ceasefire had largely run its course and as disagreements deepened over how, or whether, the plan could move forward amid unresolved security concerns and the fate of the final Israeli hostage.

The ceasefire itself marked a turning point after nearly two years of war following the Hamas-led attack on Israel in October 2023 that killed about 1,200 people and resulted in the abduction of 251 hostages. 

Under the first phase of the truce, which took effect in October 2025, Hamas released the last remaining living hostages, while Israel carried out prisoner releases and limited troop withdrawals. Despite the relative success of that opening stage, Israeli leaders have consistently maintained that the ceasefire was never intended to be an endpoint, but rather a bridge toward a broader settlement contingent on strict compliance by Hamas.

However, that compliance has fallen short. Israeli officials say Hamas has failed to meet core obligations, particularly those related to disarmament and accountability. 

Central to Israel’s current position is the unresolved status of the last remaining hostage held somewhere in Gaza. For Netanyahu’s government, the return of that final hostage is not symbolic but foundational, and Israeli leaders have stated repeatedly that no meaningful transition to the next phase of the peace plan can occur until Hamas complies.

The Trump peace proposal, unveiled in September 2025 and later endorsed by the United Nations Security Council, is a 20-point framework designed to end Hamas’ rule in Gaza and replace it with an internationally supervised governing structure. 

The plan’s early points focus on an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages, humanitarian access, and the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from designated areas. Subsequent elements address security, calling for the full demilitarization of Gaza and the dismantling of Hamas’ military infrastructure.

Later points of the proposal lay out a vision for governance and reconstruction, including the formation of a Palestinian technocratic committee to manage daily affairs in Gaza under the supervision of a U.S.-led Board of Peace. That board would oversee reconstruction efforts, coordinate international funding, and operate under a renewable United Nations mandate. 

The final sections of the plan extend beyond Gaza itself, outlining a pathway toward normalized relations between Israel and Arab states, regional security cooperation, and the possibility of a future Palestinian political framework, reliant on sustained peace and security benchmarks.

Israel’s reservations about the plan center largely on sequencing and enforcement. Netanyahu and senior Israeli officials argue that the plan’s goals are unrealistic without ironclad guarantees that Hamas will no longer function as an armed organization. 

Israeli intelligence assessments indicate that Hamas still retains significant weapons stockpiles and organizational capacity, a reality that Israeli leaders say directly violates the demilitarization requirements embedded in the Trump proposal. 

Hamas’ statements that it is willing to “freeze” or “store” weapons, rather than surrender them outright, have been dismissed in Israel as insufficient and noncompliant.

The first phase of the ceasefire began in October, leading to hostage releases and a reduction in large-scale fighting. By November, attention shifted toward forming the technocratic governing body for Gaza and finalizing the mandate of the International Stabilization Force. It was at this stage that progress slowed dramatically.

The December 2025 Mar-a-Lago meeting between Trump and Netanyahu occurred against this backdrop of growing uncertainty. 

According to officials familiar with the talks, Trump pressed Netanyahu to consider ways to accelerate the transition into phase two, while Netanyahu emphasized that Israel would not move forward without full compliance on hostages and disarmament. 

The meeting underscored the strain between diplomatic urgency and Israeli security doctrine, even as both leaders publicly reaffirmed their commitment to the ceasefire’s overall objectives.

Israeli officials also point to Hamas violations of the peace plan beyond disarmament. These include continued military activity, sporadic rocket fire, and ongoing control over territory and tunnel networks that were supposed to be dismantled or placed under international supervision. 

Each incident, Israeli leaders say, erodes trust and reinforces their view that advancing reconstruction or governance reforms without first neutralizing Hamas would endanger Israeli civilians and destabilize the region.

Israel also faces pressure from Arab states and international partners eager to move forward with reconstruction and humanitarian relief. Several regional governments have expressed willingness to fund rebuilding efforts, including temporary housing projects and infrastructure development, but Israeli officials caution that reconstruction cannot proceed independently of security. Proposed maps showing planned housing developments within Israeli-controlled areas of Gaza have further complicated discussions, raising questions about sovereignty, oversight, and long-term intentions.

Netanyahu’s approach reflects both strategic calculation and political reality. Members of his governing coalition have made clear that any agreement perceived as leaving Hamas intact would be unacceptable, while families of hostages have insisted that the final unresolved case must be addressed before Israel makes additional concessions. Public opinion in Israel remains divided, with some urging compromise to lock in the ceasefire and others warning that premature diplomacy would ensure future conflict.

Thus, the ceasefire remains in place but fragile. The Trump peace plan, once heralded as a comprehensive roadmap to ending the Gaza war, now hinges on a narrow set of issues: the return of the final hostage, verifiable disarmament of Hamas, and agreement on who will ultimately control security and governance in Gaza. These are the core conditions that will determine whether the ceasefire evolves into lasting peace or collapses under the weight of unmet promises.