Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet US President Donald Trump on December 29, an Israeli government spokesperson confirmed on Monday, saying the discussions will focus on the next steps in the US-backed ceasefire framework for Gaza and the proposed international stabilisation force.
Shosh Bedrosian, spokesperson for the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office, said the meeting comes at a critical stage in efforts to solidify the ceasefire. “I can share with you that the Prime Minister will meet with President Trump on Monday, December 29th. They will discuss the future steps and phases and the international stabilisation force of the ceasefire plan,” Bedrosian stated.
She emphasised the joint military-diplomatic pressure applied by Israel and the US on Hamas. “Let’s remember how the ceasefire plan came to be. With the military pressure Prime Minister Netanyahu put on Hamas while our troops entered their stronghold of Gaza City, and the diplomatic pressure President Trump put on Hamas, this is why we are here. We cannot forget how we got here. The third phase of this plan will be focused on the de-radicalisation of the Gaza Strip,” she said.
Netanyahu Praises Trump as Israel’s ‘Greatest Friend’ in Earlier Speech
The upcoming meeting follows Netanyahu’s remarks in October 2025, when he delivered an address to the Israeli Knesset on October 13 and hailed Donald Trump as an unparalleled ally of Israel.
Calling the US President “the greatest friend that Israel has ever had in the White House,” Netanyahu credited Trump with transforming Israel’s diplomatic landscape.
“No American president has ever done more for Israel, and as I said in Washington, it isn’t even close,” he declared.
Netanyahu highlighted two key achievements: Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital during his first term, and the Abraham Accords, which normalised diplomatic ties between Israel and the UAE, Bahrain and Morocco.
Second Stage of Ceasefire Plan Nearing Completion, Says Netanyahu
On Sunday (December 7), Netanyahu said the second phase of the US-supported Gaza ceasefire proposal was “approaching,” but cautioned that several major issues—particularly the possibility of deploying an international security contingent—remained unresolved.
Standing beside German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Jerusalem, the Israeli leader said he intends to use his upcoming talks with Trump to secure a smooth transition to the next phase of the plan.
The meeting, Netanyahu said, will also focus on dismantling Hamas’ control in Gaza. While the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has entered its second month, both sides continue to accuse each other of violating the deal.
Netanyahu stressed that Hamas must not only uphold the truce but also comply fully with the obligations laid out in the ceasefire framework. These include disarmament and the demilitarisation of Gaza, which he said are essential to long-term security.
