Trump has upper hand over Netanyahu, but is it enough for Gaza?

Ahead of their scheduled Dec. 29 meeting in Florida, President Donald Trump is likely to increase pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to implement the second phase of the American Gaza plan and to reach a security deal with Syria. 

Diplomatic sources believe Trump has the upper hand and is therefore expected to use this leverage to force the Israeli premier to accept the American regional policies.

Israel testing US patience

Last week, Israel killed Hamas senior commander Raed Saad without first notifying the White House or the American Civil-Military Coordination Center in Kiryat Gat, which is tasked with overseeing developments in Gaza. The White House scolded Netanyahu in response. 
A message relayed to the premier said that “if you want to ruin your reputation and show that you don’t abide by agreements be our guest, but we won’t allow you to ruin President Trump’s reputation after he brokered the deal in Gaza," Axios reported. While denying there is a rift with Netanyahu, Trump said Monday that Washington was “looking into” whether Israel violated the Gaza ceasefire with the strike that killed Saad.

Since taking office for the second time, Trump has been supporting Israel in its Gaza war against Hamas. Over the course of the past two years, Trump struck Iran’s nuclear plants and reached a deal that saw the release of 48 hostages held in Gaza, becoming the most popular leader in Israelis’ eyes. Still, tensions between Trump and Netanyahu became visible on April 7, when the president announced the United States was launching direct talks with Iran on a nuclear deal. Netanyahu sat next to Trump at the White House when the American president made the announcement, clearly surprised, even shocked, by it.