PALM BEACH, FL — In their fifth in-person meeting of 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu presented a unified front at the Mar-a-Lago resort, signaling a hardline approach to the next phase of the Gaza ceasefire. The summit, held on Monday, December 29, 2025, aimed to break the deadlock over the transition to a permanent regional stability framework.
The Ultimatum: Hamas Disarmament
The most striking development from the joint press conference was President Trump’s direct warning to Hamas. Addressing the group’s refusal to surrender its weapons—a key requirement for the “Phase 2” transition—Trump declared that patience had reached its limit.
“Hamas will be given a very short period of time to disarm,” Trump told reporters. “If they don’t… then there will be hell to pay for them. We don’t want that, but they have to disarm as they agreed to do.”
Trump also claimed that 59 countries are prepared to intervene and “wipe out” Hamas if the disarmament conditions are not met, framing the group as the sole impediment to the massive reconstruction efforts slated for the enclave.
A Historic Honor: The Israel Prize
In a move that underscored the depth of the current U.S.-Israel alliance, Prime Minister Netanyahu announced that the Israeli government would award President Trump the Israel Prize for Peace.
- The Significance: This marks the first time in the prize’s 80-year history that it will be awarded to a non-Israeli citizen.
- The Reason: Netanyahu cited Trump’s “immense contributions” to Israel’s security and his role in brokering the October ceasefire that halted the two-year war.
- The Response: Trump described the honor as “unexpected and very much appreciated,” indicating he would likely attend the award ceremony in Israel during their Independence Day celebrations.
Strategic Alignment and Domestic Support
Despite reports of internal White House frustration regarding Netanyahu’s “slow-walking” of troop withdrawals, Trump publicly defended the Prime Minister’s actions.
- Gaza Execution: Trump stated he was “not concerned about anything Israel is doing,” asserting that Israel has lived up to the peace plan “100 percent.”
- West Bank Friction: Trump did acknowledge a rare point of disagreement regarding the occupied West Bank and settler violence, stating, “We don’t agree on the West Bank 100%, but we’ll come to a conclusion.”
- Netanyahu’s Pardon: Trump sparked controversy by claiming that Israeli President Isaac Herzog told him a pardon for Netanyahu’s ongoing corruption trial was “on its way.” However, Herzog’s office quickly issued a denial, stating no such conversation had occurred since the formal pardon request was submitted.
The Iran Factor
The leaders also spent significant time discussing a recent “intelligence dossier” brought by Netanyahu regarding Iran’s attempts to rebuild its ballistic missile capabilities. Trump reiterated his willingness to take kinetic action, warning that if Tehran continues to advance its nuclear or missile programs, the U.S. would “have to knock them down” again.
