Trump Pressed Netanyahu to Speed Up Gaza Peace Plan, Axios Reports

In brief

• Trump asked Netanyahu by phone to accelerate the American Gaza peace plan.
• The plan had stalled for months during Israel's October 27 election.
• Washington plans to resume the process regardless of the election outcome.

Trump calls Netanyahu

US President Donald Trump spoke by phone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on November 5 and asked him to step up the American plan for Gaza, according to Axios, which cited sources (Трамп призвал Нетаньяху ускорить реализацию мирного плана по Газе — Axios – NV). Secretary of State Marco Rubio, special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner also took part. The conversation was described as constructive, and the Iran war was also discussed. Netanyahu initiated the call.

Plan stalled during Israeli election

According to Axios, implementation was effectively paused for several months because of Israel's parliamentary election held on October 27. The Trump administration did not want the Gaza file to become politically sensitive during the campaign. With voting over, Washington intends to resume the process regardless of whether Netanyahu remains in power.

Former British prime minister visits Israel

The following day, former UK prime minister Tony Blair, who sits on Trump's Board of Peace, arrived in Israel. He met Netanyahu and his rival Gadi Eisenkot, who has been tasked with forming a new government. Blair urged Israeli politicians to give the peace plan a chance. A US official said its implementation requires cooperation from the Israeli government.

What the plan includes

The plan calls for the disarmament of Hamas, the demilitarization of Gaza, and the transfer of administration of the enclave to a new Palestinian technocratic body.