Trump and Netanyahu Meet at Mar-a-Lago to Break Gaza Ceasefire Deadlock

PALM BEACH, FL — U.S. President Donald Trump is hosting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his Mar-a-Lago estate this morning, marking a critical juncture in the push to transition the Gaza ceasefire into its complex second phase.

The meeting follows separate briefings between Netanyahu and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Washington is now looking to leverage the personal rapport between Trump and Netanyahu to overcome stalling points in a ceasefire that has mostly held since October but currently faces a “huge gulf” in diplomatic expectations.

At the heart of the discussions is Trump’s 20-point plan, previously approved by the UN Security Council. A key pillar of this vision is the establishment of the “Board of Peace,” an international supervisory group chaired by Trump himself.

Under this framework:

A “technocratic, apolitical” Palestinian committee would handle daily affairs.

Gaza would be rebuilt as a demilitarized zone under a renewable two-year UN mandate.

The plan provides a pathway for normalized relations between Israel and the Arab world, alongside a potential route to Palestinian independence.

A major sticking point remains the disarmament of Hamas. While Hamas has expressed a willingness to “freeze or store” its arsenal, the U.S. and Israel demand a total command role in security. Sources indicate that U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff has floated a “weapons buyback” program, offering cash incentives to militants in exchange for hardware.

Netanyahu has signaled that progress on the second phase remains tied to the recovery of the remains of Ran Gvili. The Prime Minister met with Gvili’s parents in Florida earlier this morning, reinforcing his stance that the next phase of the truce cannot proceed without the return of all Israeli citizens.