Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to meet US President Donald Trump at the Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida on Monday, with the stalled Gaza ceasefire high on the agenda. This marks Netanyahu's fifth visit to see Trump in the United States this year.
Hostage Remains Central to Stalled Deal
Israeli officials and analysts indicate that Netanyahu is expected to tell President Trump that Hamas must return the remains of the last Israeli hostage left in Gaza before the next phases of the ceasefire can proceed. The hostage, Ran Gvili, a 24-year-old police officer, was badly wounded and abducted during the Hamas raid into Israel in October 2023 that triggered the conflict. It remains unclear whether he died from his wounds during the initial attack or later in Gaza.
The family of Ran Gvili has joined the Prime Minister's visiting delegation and will meet officials in Washington later this week. Hundreds of people gathered in Tel Aviv on Saturday night, demanding Israel make no concessions to advance the ceasefire until his remains are repatriated.
Wider Ceasefire Plan and Israeli Reservations
The trip occurs amid a renewed push from Washington to secure Israeli concessions to progress towards the ceasefire's second stage. The initial phase, which began in October after two years of war, has now stalled. A subsequent phase, as per the Trump administration's plan, calls for:
- An interim authority of non-aligned Palestinian technocrats to govern Gaza.
- An International Stabilisation Force (ISF) of thousands of troops to be deployed.
Israeli officials have expressed significant concerns about both proposals. Analysts suggest Netanyahu's focus on Gvili's remains could be a tactic to delay further withdrawal, allowing Israeli forces to remain in the 53% of Gaza they currently control.
Political Pressures and Regional Stakes
For Netanyahu, who faces an election within ten months, the situation is politically delicate. He is under pressure from Washington, where Axios reported senior Trump officials are growing exasperated with steps that undermine the ceasefire. Domestically, political opponents like Avigdor Lieberman argue reconstruction in Gaza cannot begin until Gvili's remains are returned.
Netanyahu is also expected to warn Trump that Israel is prepared to restart the war to force Hamas to surrender its weapons, as required by the agreement. While Hamas retains small arms, it has only a fraction of the heavy weapons used in its 2023 attack, which killed 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and saw 250 abducted.
The ensuing Israeli offensive has resulted in the deaths of more than 70,000 Palestinians, mostly civilians, with vast areas of Gaza reduced to ruins. About 400 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire since the October ceasefire.
Analysts note that Netanyahu and Trump could find common ground on concerns about Iran's nuclear programme, though the US may resist further attacks. With major diplomatic initiatives frozen, Netanyahu seeks to balance showing progress without allowing Hamas to remain in power.
