Trump pressuring Netanyahu to back launch of 2nd phase of Gaza deal this month – report

White House reportedly putting heavy pressure on Israel to back declaration by President Trump, during Netanyahu’s visit later this month, announcing transition to second phase of Gaza peace plan.

By World Israel News Staff

The White House is putting heavy pressure on the Israeli government to get behind plans to formally launch the second phase of the administration’s 20-point Gaza peace plan later this month, according to a report published by Israel Hayom Tuesday.

Citing an unnamed source, the report claimed that the Trump administration is hoping to win Jerusalem’s backing for an announcement by President Donald Trump, during Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to the US later this month, declaring that the transition to phase two of the Gaza plan is now underway.

Netanyahu is slated to meet with Trump at the president’s estate in Mar-a-Lago, Florida, on Dec. 29, amid reports that the US plans to establish the Board of Peace, tasked with temporarily administering the Gaza Strip and coordinating the flow of aid, by the end of the year.

According to Tuesday’s report, over a period of 12 hours, the Trump administration sent a flurry of messages to Israel urging Jerusalem to move on to phase two of the Gaza plan.

The US officials emphasized that while the body of one slain Israeli hostage – police officer Ran Gvili – remains in the Gaza Strip, the first phase of the deal managed to return more hostages, dead and living, than anticipated – even by Israel.

Both Israel and the US, according to the report, had expected Hamas to hold on to at least several hostage bodies.

While the US is pressuring Israel to agree to move forward with phase two, the source added that the Trump administration does not want to force Jerusalem into agreeing and is hoping instead to win Netanyahu’s consent.

The Trump administration is concerned that Netanyahu fears a backlash at home if he agrees to initiate phase two before the return of Gvili’s remains.

Senior American officials said in their internal discussions, according to the report, that they are confident phase two will lead to the disarming of Hamas, despite skepticism in Israel and statements to the contrary by Hamas leaders.