In a tense showdown at Mar-a-Lago, US President Donald Trump met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, with the fate of Gaza and the Middle East teetering on the brink. The Florida sun shone on a meeting heavy with urgency, strategy, and high drama.
Trump left no room for ambiguity: Iran must not rebuild its nuclear facilities, he warned, promising that any attempt would be “knocked down” by the United States. Turning to Gaza, he demanded the disarmament of Hamas, declaring that peace is impossible while weapons remain in the hands of militants.
But Hamas is standing firm. Its armed wing, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, defiantly vowed, “Our people will not give up their weapons as long as the occupation continues.”
Netanyahu, visibly energized by the encounter, called Trump Israel’s ultimate ally, saying, “We’ve never had a friend like President Trump in the White House.” The Israeli leader also held high-level talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, underlining the intensity of the diplomatic push.
The Florida summit, the fifth of its kind this year, comes amid growing frustration in the White House over delays in the next phase of the Gaza ceasefire. Trump is reportedly determined to install a Palestinian technocratic government to replace Hamas and deploy an international stabilization force as early as January.
The stakes could not be higher. The October ceasefire—hailed as a triumph—has only partially succeeded. Phase one saw the release of hostages and the return of remains, but phase two—Israel’s withdrawal and Hamas’s disarmament—remains mired in violations and mounting tension.
As Trump prepares to chair a new Gaza “Board of Peace” at the Davos forum, the world watches Palm Beach with bated breath. Every word, every gesture in these talks could decide whether peace takes hold—or slips back into chaos.
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