Trump Presses for "Phase Two" of Gaza Plan "Very Quickly" as White House Meeting Begins

Trump Presses for "Phase Two" of Gaza Plan "Very Quickly" as White House Meeting Begins

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump declared his intent to move to "Phase Two" of the Gaza plan "very quickly" on Monday, setting an urgent tone for his high-stakes bilateral meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The President’s remarks, delivered at the start of scheduled events with the Israeli premier, signal a renewed administration push to finalize a comprehensive agreement early in the new year. Trump's insistence on speed comes as the White House races to secure a deal before the fragile "Phase One" truce—established on October 9, 2025—collapses.

While the President’s characterization suggests optimism for a breakthrough within the January window, significant diplomatic gaps remain. According to the administration’s "Comprehensive Plan," Phase Two requires the transfer of governance to a "Board of Peace" and the complete disarmament of Hamas. However, the transition has been deadlocked for weeks despite the White House indicating that an International Stabilization Force is already operational.

The primary obstacle remains the sequencing of security demands. Prime Minister Netanyahu has insisted that Israel will not proceed to the second phase until Hamas fully disarms and returns the remains of Ran Gvili, the final Israeli hostage. Conversely, Hamas leadership has refused to surrender its security capabilities, despite signaling a willingness to relinquish political governance to a technocratic committee.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently warned that Washington aims to fill the current power vacuum "very soon" to prevent a return to full-scale combat. With the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) still entrenched in approximately 50% of the Gaza Strip, today’s meeting is viewed as a critical deadline to determine if the "Phase Two" agreement can be officially reached by the end of January, or if negotiations will drag further into 2026.