Trump and Netanyahu meet Monday in critical moment for Gaza ceasefire

President Donald Trump welcomed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to his Florida home for wide-ranging discussions on Monday.

Trump warned Iran against developing its nuclear program after he previously insisted that Tehran's nuclear capabilities were "completely and fully obliterated" by U.S. strikes on key nuclear enrichment sites in June, the Associated Press reported. 

However, Israeli officials have told local media outlets they were concerned about Iran rebuilding its supply of long-range missiles capable of striking Israel.

"Now I hear that Iran is trying to build up again," Trump told reporters as he welcomed Netanyahu to his Mar-a-Lago estate. "And if they are, we’re going to have to knock them down. We'll knock them down. We'll knock the hell out of them. But hopefully that’s not happening," the AP noted. 

Netanyahu was expected to discuss with Trump the need to potentially take new military action against Tehran just months after launching a 12-day war on Iran. According to the AP, Trump was critical of Iran for not making a deal to completely disarm its nuclear program ahead of the U.S. and Israeli strikes earlier this year.

FOX News reported that during their meeting Netanyahu reportedly may present Trump with plans for a potential strike on Iran. 

RELATED: Israel recovers remains of 3 hostages from Gaza as fragile ceasefire holds

Israel has warned the U.S. that a recent Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps missile drill could be masking plans for an attack, a concern that IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir communicated to U.S. Central Command chief Adm. Brad Cooper during recent meetings in Tel Aviv.

The Associated Press reported that Trump and Netanyahu's Monday meeting comes after U.S. Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff and the president's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, met in Florida with officials from Egypt, Qatar and Turkey, which have been mediating the ceasefire.

Gaza ceasefire

The backstory:

The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas that President Donald Trump supported has mostly held, but progress has slowed down recently. Both sides accuse one another of violations, and divisions have emerged among the U.S., Israel and Arab countries about the path forward.

On Oct. 10, the ceasefire took effect, days after the two-year anniversary of the initial Hamas-led attack on Israel that killed around 1,200 people. All but one of the 251 hostages taken then have been released, alive or dead.

RELATED: Israel-Hamas Ceasefire: Trump speaks to Israeli Parliament as hostages freed, prisoners released

Militants have released one or two bodies every few days. Israel has urged faster progress, and in certain cases it has said the remains aren’t of any hostage. Hamas has said the work is complicated by widespread devastation.

Dig deeper:

Meanwhile, the second phase of the ceasefire involves rebuilding Gaza under international supervision, creating an international security force and strengthening relations between Israel and the Arab world.

The Associated Press reported that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hinted that he is in no rush to proceed with the next phase of the ceasefire as long as the remains of Ran Gvili are still in Gaza.

Gvili’s parents met with Netanyahu and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, in Florida on Monday. 

The Gvilis are scheduled to meet with President Trump later on Monday, the AP reported, citing the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, a group that advocates for families of abductees of the Oct. 7, 2023, attack.

The family, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum told the AP, is looking "to ensure there will be no transition to Phase 2 of the agreement until Hamas fulfills its Phase 1 commitments and returns Ran home."