President Donald Trump is intent on bringing about the second phase of the Gaza peace plan.
As President Donald Trump hosts Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Mar-a-Lago today, the United States faces a strategic recalibration across multiple global theatres. And while framed as a discussion of Gaza’s future, this summit will advance President Trump’s broader geopolitical vision rather than serve Prime Minister Netanyahu’s agenda.
With Ukraine and the Indo-Pacific demanding sustained attention, the Trump administration cannot afford to remain indefinitely focused on Gaza. Reclaiming US influence in South America and the standoff with Venezuela are also top priorities for the president. Consequently, the imperative for President Trump to transition the United States from a direct security guarantor in the Middle East to a more removed strategic architect has never been clearer.
Phase two of the Gaza plan, which focuses on the disarmament of Hamas and the demilitarization of Gaza, will constitute the summit’s immediate priority. Israeli government Spokesperson Shosh Bedrosian confirmed that President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu “will discuss the future steps and phases and the international stabilization force of the ceasefire plan.”
Netanyahu himself has acknowledged, alongside German chancellor Friedrich Merz, that this phase is “no less daunting” than the first phase but essential for long-term stability. And extending even to the third phase of de-radicalizing Gaza, a process Netanyahu noted others had “believed impossible.”
What makes the second phase particularly critical for President Trump is how it enables America’s broader geopolitical pivot. By establishing an international stabilization force, the administration can transition from direct military involvement to a leadership role within a coalition framework. This aligns precisely with the administration’s vision of regional security arrangements in which capable regional alliances, backed by international partners, handle security challenges rather than requiring a constant US military presence.
The administration’s framework envisions an international governance structure for Gaza’s redevelopment, alongside an independent monitoring mechanism for demilitarization, thereby creating the institutional framework through which America can maintain influence with minimal direct military commitment.
President Trump’s message to Netanyahu will be unambiguous: for Israel to achieve meaningful regional integration, it must move beyond Netanyahu’s “negative agenda,” which focuses solely on threats to Israel. This requires embracing cooperation with neighbors as embodied by the recently concluded $35 billion Israeli-Egyptian gas deal.
While Netanyahu’s political survival may depend on showcasing tangible security gains, President Trump’s strategic calculus operates on a broader horizon. The December 29 summit isn’t primarily about Israel. By securing a viable implementation mechanism for phase two, President Trump can confidently redirect his attention to Ukraine, the Indo-Pacific, and South America, knowing Gaza’s security framework rests in capable regional hands.
The Gaza peace plan’s success won’t be measured solely by Israeli or Palestinian satisfaction, but by how effectively it enables America to address the wider constellation of global challenges.
About the Author: Abdulla Al Junaid
Abdulla Al Junaid is a geopolitical columnist and commentator in Middle Eastern and international media. He is the former department head for Analysis and Policies at the National Unity Party in Bahrain, the former deputy director of MENA2050, an advisory board member of the German-Arab Friendship Association (DAFG), and a permanent committee member of the Germany-GCC Annual Conference on Security and Cooperation. He was a guest speaker at the German-GCC Annual Conference on Security & Cooperation, the Herzliya Conference, and the Abu Dhabi Strategic Forum. He is also an executive partner at INTERMID Consultancy (Bahrain).
Image: Noam Galai / Shutterstock.com.
