The highly anticipated meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, December 29, 2025, resulted in a public display of mutual admiration but delivered no substantive progress on advancing the fragile peace plan for Gaza. The leaders convened for a lunch meeting at Trump's Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida.
Pleasantries Over Progress on Key Issues
Following their discussions, both leaders took to a news conference where compliments flowed freely. Prime Minister Netanyahu hailed President Trump as a "friend" and announced he was gifting him Israel's prestigious Israel Prize, an honour typically reserved for Israeli citizens. In return, President Trump labeled Netanyahu a "hero" and publicly urged Israeli President Isaac Herzog to pardon the Prime Minister in his ongoing corruption trial.
Despite the cordial atmosphere, the meeting failed to produce breakthroughs on critical Middle East issues. The talks were intended to address tensions between Washington and Jerusalem that threaten a U.S.-brokered ceasefire in Gaza, which has largely held but seen recent slowdowns. Trump acknowledged that the two allies are not yet aligned on matters concerning the West Bank, though he provided no specifics.
Stalemate on Gaza Peace Plan's Next Phase
Central to the discussions was the stalled U.S.-brokered peace plan for Gaza. While Trump asserted that Israel had "lived up to the plan 100%," he offered few details on a timeline for moving to the crucial second phase. When pressed by reporters, he stated the move should happen "as quickly as we can" but emphasized that "there has to be disarmament" by Hamas.
The U.S. President placed the onus squarely on the militant group, warning, "If they don't disarm as they agreed to do... then there will be hell to pay for them." The second phase of the plan, which has yet to begin, envisions the establishment of a technocratic government in Gaza, the disarmament of Hamas, an Israeli troop withdrawal, and the subsequent reconstruction of the territory.
A Stark Warning to Iran
While vague on Gaza, President Trump was unequivocal in a message directed at Iran. Addressing intelligence warnings that Iran is attempting to rebuild its missile capabilities, Trump issued a blunt threat during the press conference.
"Now I hear that Iran is trying to build up again," Trump said. "And if they are, we're going to have to knock them down. We'll knock them down. We'll knock the hell out of them." He suggested that confirmed nuclear weapons development at new sites could trigger U.S. strikes "more powerful than the last time," referencing American air and missile strikes on Iranian facilities in June 2025, which he claims "obliterated" their nuclear program.
The meeting, marking Netanyahu's fifth visit to the United States in 2025, underscored the personal rapport between the two leaders but highlighted the significant diplomatic challenges that remain unresolved in the region, with divisions persisting among the U.S., Israel, and Arab partners on the path forward for peace.
