• Trump administration officials believe Netanyahu is delaying the Gaza peace process and fear he may resume the war with Hamas
• Egypt accuses Israeli prime minister of attempting to redirect American attention toward Iran, Syria and Lebanon to avoid moving forward with ceasefire agreement
• December 29 meeting at Mar-a-Lago could determine whether Trump sides with his advisers or adopts Netanyahu’s more hawkish approach

WASHINGTON (TDR) — A significant dispute between the United States and Israel over implementing the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire has emerged ahead of a crucial December 29 meeting between President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with Washington pressing for reconstruction to begin alongside disarmament while Israel demands Hamas be fully disarmed first.

The disagreement comes as Trump administration officials express growing frustration with Netanyahu’s handling of the fragile truce, which came into effect October 10 following the signing of Trump’s 20-point peace plan on October 9. White House officials believe Netanyahu is slow-walking the peace process and fear he may resume the war with Hamas, according to multiple reports.

Egyptian Officials Accuse Netanyahu of Obstruction

Egyptian officials have accused Netanyahu of deliberately attempting to obstruct progress on phase two by trying to redirect American attention toward other regional crises, particularly Iran, Syria and Lebanon. Diaa Rashwan, head of Egypt’s State Information Service, stated that Netanyahu is trying “by all means” to avoid moving to the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement.

“Netanyahu is seeking by all means to avoid moving forward with the second stage of the agreement, by diverting US attention to other regional issues, particularly Iran, Syria and Lebanon.”

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Rashwan warned that the Israeli premier is attempting to ignite tensions beyond Gaza by exploiting strained US-Iran relations, hoping to draw Washington into a confrontation with Tehran that could reignite fighting in Gaza and derail the second phase of the agreement. However, he stressed that there is a clear US veto against a resumption of fighting in Gaza.

Trump Administration Team Grows Frustrated

Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff and his adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner have been working with the Egyptians, Qataris and Turks to finalize agreements and lay the groundwork for phase two of the deal, which involves Hamas handing over weapons and Israeli forces pulling back. But Netanyahu has expressed skepticism over their ideas, especially on the demilitarization of Gaza.

A White House official told Axios that Trump’s top team has grown increasingly frustrated as Netanyahu has taken steps to undermine the fragile ceasefire and stall the peace process.

“It’s J.D., Marco, Jared, Steve, Susie. He has lost them. The only one he has left is the president, who still likes him, but even he wants to see the Gaza deal moving faster than it is right now.”

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According to the report, Trump’s team believes Netanyahu has buyer’s remorse regarding the 20-point peace plan he agreed to in October. The White House wants to unveil a Palestinian technocratic government and International Stabilization Force for Gaza as soon as possible, and potentially even convene the Trump-led Board of Peace at the World Economic Forum in Davos later in January.

Key Disagreements Over Phase Two Implementation

The second phase of Trump’s ceasefire proposal includes provisions for forming a temporary technocratic committee to administer Gaza, overseeing reconstruction efforts, establishing a peace council, deploying an international force, further Israeli troop withdrawals from the Strip and the disarmament of Hamas.

Netanyahu is conditioning the start of second-phase negotiations on the recovery of the body of Ran Gvili, described as the last Israeli detainee held by the Palestinian resistance. Hamas has stated that retrieving the body may take time due to the scale of destruction across Gaza.

Israeli officials have indicated that Israel wants the second phase to start only after it receives the last hostage body and its army makes more progress toward reducing the military presence of Hamas and other militant groups in the enclave. Israel has insisted that Hamas must be fully disarmed before moving forward with the plan.

Trump Faces Critical Decision at Mar-a-Lago

The December 29 meeting at Mar-a-Lago will mark Netanyahu’s fifth visit to the United States to meet Trump since the president took office earlier this year, and the first since the Trump administration brokered the ceasefire.

A senior Israeli official stated that Netanyahu is trying to convince Trump himself to adopt a more hawkish point of view, even as the Israeli prime minister butts heads with Trump’s team.

“Bibi is trying to convince a one-man audience. The question is whether Trump will side with him or with his top advisers when it comes to Gaza.”

Last Friday, Witkoff and Kushner met in Miami with the prime minister of Qatar, the head of Egyptian intelligence and the Turkish foreign minister to discuss the next steps in Gaza. Those four countries are the guarantors of the peace deal. A senior White House official said that one of the goals of the meeting was to map out demands for Netanyahu ahead of his meeting with Trump.

They agreed Trump would raise with Netanyahu the need for the Israel Defense Forces to adhere to the ceasefire and avoid civilian casualties. The parties also agreed to move forward with naming the technocratic government as soon as possible so it can assume responsibility for day-to-day governance in place of Hamas.

Ceasefire Violations Continue

Since the first phase of the ceasefire began on October 10, Palestinian factions have handed over 20 Israeli captives alive and the bodies of 27 others. The body of Gvili remains unaccounted for, with search efforts ongoing.

However, Israel has violated the agreement hundreds of times and failed to meet several of its obligations, particularly those related to humanitarian access and the entry of aid, according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health. These violations resulted in the killing of more than 400 Palestinians, despite Hamas’s stated commitment to the ceasefire.

The ceasefire is fragile and has been interrupted by intermittent violence, with each side accusing the other of violating the agreement. The IDF has fired at Palestinians who it says have crossed the yellow line marking the territory that it still holds, which comprises over half the enclave.

Will Trump side with his frustrated advisers or adopt Netanyahu’s more hawkish approach to the Gaza ceasefire as phase two implementation stalls?

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