Considerable tension has seized Israel's diplomatic apparatus as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prepares for his sixth meeting with US President Donald Trump. The December 29 meeting will unfold at Trump's Florida estate, Mar-a-Lago, necessitated by America's year-end holiday season.
Trump intends to declare Phase 2 of the 20-point framework within days, despite Hamas withholding deceased hostage, Israeli hero Sgt. 1st Class Ran Gvili, who perished defending Kibbutz Alumim during the October 7 massacre. The original framework required the terrorist organization to repatriate all captives within 72 hours before advancing to Phase 2.
Israeli officials harbor hopes Trump will postpone the declaration until Gvili's recovery, yet even a formal Phase 2 announcement remains operationally ambiguous. The crux: Not a single nation has volunteered troops to combat Hamas. Azerbaijan Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov stated Monday that his government lacks answers to fundamental questions about the prospective force's mandate, "rendering any decision on Azerbaijani military participation premature."
A day earlier, Netanyahu assessed the nascent international force likely cannot execute its primary objective: stripping Hamas of weaponry. Given this reality, diplomatic officials anticipate Hamas disarmament will dominate the Trump-Netanyahu dialogue.
Trump and his inner circle have repeatedly pledged to prevent Hamas governance in Gaza and ensure the Strip's demilitarization. The international coordination hub in Gaza (the Kiryat Gat Civil-Military Coordination Center) has already partitioned the territory into numerous compact sectors for sequential neutralization. Implementation methodology remains nebulous, with expectations Netanyahu will advocate for IDF authorization should alternative actors fail to materialize.
Beyond Gaza, Trump and Netanyahu will architect responses to additional diplomatic and security imperatives. Paramount among these: Iran's weapons program resurgence, Hezbollah's persistent armament, and potential Syrian security arrangements.
Next phase uncertainty
Regarding the final captive soldier's repatriation, Gvili, developments remain static. A Zeitoun neighborhood sweep yielded nothing. Israel Hayom confirmed the Gvili family confronted US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz Monday, insisting Washington forestall Phase 2 advancement pending their son's recovery.
Coordinator of Hostages and Missing Persons Brig. Gen. (Res.) Gal Hirsch briefed Waltz on operational status and retrieval initiatives. The ambassador articulated American resolve and personal dedication to mission completion and the soldier's dignified burial in Israel, yet declined to guarantee Phase 2 postponement.
American officials advocate Phase 2 commencement regardless of Gvili's discovery and return, proposing announcement once Hamas demonstrably lacks precise location intelligence and exhausts search capabilities.
Waltz earlier conferred with Netanyahu, continuing his Israel itinerary today with stops including the Kiryat Gat international headquarters.
Danny Zaken contributed to this report.
