By the end of December, Gaza could find itself at a pivotal diplomatic juncture, the most significant since the ceasefire took hold nearly two months ago. With President Donald Trump gearing up to reveal the long-awaited “Board of Peace” and move Washington’s Gaza plan into its next phase, the upcoming weeks will challenge not just American strategy but also the political boundaries of every player involved, from Israel and Hamas to Arab allies and European partners.

In this second phase, disarmament and governance are not just footnotes—they’re the pivotal elements that could either help the region rebuild or send it spiraling back to where it started. With the UN’s support from last November and some fresh diplomatic encouragement, there’s a sense of cautious optimism in the air. However, the underlying geopolitical tensions are making everything feel a bit shaky.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s upcoming meeting with Trump on December 29 highlights the importance of this moment. Netanyahu’s trip to the U.S. is set to include a meeting with President Trump at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, where he’ll also engage in several other high-level discussions, as the American administration seeks to advance the developing Gaza framework, according to a report.

The report indicates that the White House is aiming to bring Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi to the Mar-a-Lago meeting to help secure Israeli backing for a strategic arrangement concerning Gaza with Cairo.

Netanyahu is expected to spend eight days in Florida, during which he will have two meetings with Trump, along with discussions with Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

This week, standing alongside German Chancellor Friedrich Merz earlier, Netanyahu declared the first stage of the ceasefire nearly complete, with a “more difficult” second phase approaching rapidly—one centered on dismantling Hamas’s military control and setting the groundwork for a new governing order in Gaza.

???? Netanyahu: We soon expect to enter phase two of the Gaza plan, which is more difficult

— i24NEWS English (@i24NEWS_EN) December 7, 2025

“We’re about to finish the first stage,” Netanyahu said. “But we have to make sure that we achieve the same results in the second stage, and that’s something I look forward to discussing with President Trump.” Those comments reveal a critical truth: phase two is not just a technical step in an agreement—it is the political heart of the entire Gaza transition.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met today, at his Jerusalem office, with the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations @USAmbUN, Mike Waltz @michaelgwaltz. pic.twitter.com/9Ss7krIczy

— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) December 8, 2025

The “Board of Peace” is anticipated to bring together about ten leaders from both Arab and Western backgrounds, and it’s being set........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)