It is expected that U.S. President Donald Trump will push for progress in a Gaza ceasefire when he meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today for talks that will include Israeli concerns about Hezbollah in Lebanon and Iran. Netanyahu said this month that Trump invited him for talks, as Washington seeks to establish a transitional authority and an international security force in the Palestinian enclave. Trump said he would soon meet with the Israeli leader, but the White House has not confirmed details. The White House did not respond to requests for comment on the meeting. Netanyahu, who is expected to visit Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort, announced on December 22 that the talks would likely address the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire, as well as Iran and Lebanon. Washington has mediated ceasefires on three fronts, but Israel is concerned its adversaries will rebuild their forces after being significantly weakened during the war. Next steps in the Gaza ceasefire plan All parties agreed in October to Trump's ceasefire plan, which calls for Israel to withdraw from Gaza and for Hamas to disarm and relinquish control of the strip. Last week, U.S. Secretary of State Mark Rubio said Washington wants to establish the transitional authority outlined in Trump's plan—a Peace Council composed of independent Palestinian figures—as soon as possible to administer Gaza before deploying the international security force mandated by a UN Security Council resolution on November 17.
