Trump and Netanyahu Set to Discuss Gaza Ceasefire and Regional Tensions

US President Donald Trump is preparing for discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on December 29, with a focus on revitalizing the stalled ceasefire in Gaza. Topics will also include Israel's security concerns regarding Hezbollah in Lebanon and escalating Iranian military activities.

Netanyahu confirmed in December that Trump invited him for talks aimed at progress, as the US pushes for a transitional government and an international security force in Gaza. While Trump has indicated the meeting's potential, the White House has not yet provided official confirmation.

Netanyahu is expected to visit Trump at Mar-a-Lago, where they will discuss further actions on the Gaza ceasefire, as well as the Iranian and Lebanese situations. Although Washington has mediated ceasefires in various conflict areas, Israel maintains caution about adversaries potentially reinvesting in military capabilities.

The ceasefire agreement reached in October necessitates Israel's withdrawal from Gaza along with a disarmament of Hamas and relinquishment of its territory control. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has emphasized the critical necessity of establishing a Palestinian technocratic administration to manage Gaza prior to the deployment of the international security force as specified in a recent UN resolution.

Even with the ceasefire, clashes continue, as both Israel and Hamas accuse each other of breaching the truce. Hamas has resisted disarmament and continues to solidify its power, while Israeli forces remain in certain Gaza locations. Israel has cautioned that military actions could be reinstated should Hamas fail to disarm peacefully.

In Lebanon, a US-supported ceasefire established in November 2024 aimed to disarm Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group. Reports from Lebanon indicate that progress towards completing this disarmament is being made, but Hezbollah's reluctance to disarm has led Israel to execute frequent strikes to deter Hezbollah's rearmament. Concurrently, Iran has engaged in missile drills amid ongoing regional tensions.

Netanyahu has stated that Israel seeks to avoid direct conflict with Iran, but he will address Tehran's activities in his meeting with Trump. Earlier this year, Trump authorized strikes on Iranian nuclear sites but has since expressed openness to potential negotiations with Tehran.