A screen shot taken from a video released by the White House shows U.S. President Donald Trump meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, the United States, Dec. 29, 2025. (Xinhua)
WASHINGTON, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that he will try to get the second phase of the Gaza peace plan started very quickly, underscoring that the disarmament of Hamas would be a central condition.
"Very quickly, as quickly as we can, but there has to be a disarmament," Trump told reporters while welcoming visiting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida.
Asked when Gaza reconstruction could begin, Trump said it is "going to begin pretty soon."
The second phase of the Gaza peace plan envisions a full Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza, the disarmament of Hamas, the start of reconstruction, and the establishment of a transitional governing body in Gaza.
On Saturday, Gaza health authorities said that the Palestinian death toll had reached 71,266, with 171,219 wounded since October 2023.
They added that 414 Palestinians had been killed and 1,142 wounded since the latest ceasefire took effect on Oct. 10. ■