President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met at Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida on Monday to discuss the fragile Gaza ceasefire and rising tensions in the Middle East. This marked Netanyahu's fifth visit to the United States since Trump's inauguration in January.
The Gaza ceasefire that Trump championed has mostly held, but progress toward its second phase has slowed significantly. The complicated second phase would involve naming an international governing body and rebuilding the devastated Palestinian territory. Trump has still not appointed his Board of Peace or clarified who will govern Gaza, and it remains unclear when an international force will be deployed.
Before and after the meeting, Trump issued stern warnings to Hamas, stressing that the Palestinian group must disarm. When asked what would happen if Hamas refused to give up its weapons, Trump replied: "It would be horrible for them, horrible." He also threatened Iran with unspecified consequences, suggesting Tehran was trying to rebuild nuclear sites after the U.S. struck three of them earlier this year.
In public, both leaders praised each other extensively. Netanyahu announced that Trump would receive the Israel Prize, an honor typically reserved for Israelis. Trump responded by saying Israel probably wouldn't still exist if it hadn't been for Netanyahu's wartime leadership. However, Axios reported that senior Trump officials were growing frustrated as Netanyahu has taken steps that undermine the fragile ceasefire.
The two leaders acknowledged disagreements over the West Bank. Trump stated they weren't on the same page regarding Israeli settlements but expressed confidence they would reach a conclusion. Despite the official ceasefire in place since October, more than 400 Palestinians have been killed according to Gaza health officials, while three Israeli soldiers have lost their lives.
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