Israeli prime minister announces unprecedented award for a foreign leader during Florida meeting focused on Iran, Hamas disarmament and stalled ceasefire talks.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Monday that President Donald Trump will receive the Israel Prize for 2025, marking the first time in the award’s eight-decade history that it will be bestowed on a non-Israeli, as the two leaders met in Florida for wide-ranging talks on Iran, Gaza and regional security.
Speaking at a news conference at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate, Netanyahu said the decision reflects what he described as Trump’s efforts to advance peace and security in the Middle East. The announcement came as the leaders addressed renewed concerns about Iran’s military ambitions and the fragile future of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire.
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Trump used the appearance to issue a blunt warning to Tehran, saying any attempt to rebuild its nuclear capabilities would be met with force. He reiterated his claim that U.S. strikes earlier this year had destroyed Iran’s nuclear infrastructure but said he had since received reports suggesting renewed activity.
“Now I hear that Iran is trying to build up again,” Trump told reporters after Netanyahu arrived. “And if they are, we’re going to have to knock them down. We’ll knock the hell out of them. But hopefully that’s not happening.”
Iran has publicly insisted it is no longer enriching uranium and has signaled openness to future negotiations, though Israeli officials have expressed concern that Tehran is attempting to rebuild long-range missile capabilities that could threaten Israel. Netanyahu was expected to raise the prospect of additional military action against Iran, following a brief but intense conflict earlier this year.
Trump criticized Iran for rejecting a deal that would have required full nuclear disarmament before the strikes. “They wish they made that deal,” he said.
The meeting also took place against the backdrop of renewed uncertainty over Gaza, where Trump is seeking to revive momentum for a U.S.-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Standing alongside Netanyahu, Trump said he wants to move to the second phase of the agreement “as quickly as we can,” but emphasized that Hamas must first be disarmed.
The ceasefire, which Trump has championed, has largely held since it began, though negotiations have slowed and accusations of violations have emerged from both sides. The first phase began in October, around the anniversary of the Hamas-led attack on Israel that killed about 1,200 people and led to the abduction of 251 hostages. All but one of those hostages have since been returned, alive or dead.
Netanyahu has indicated he is unwilling to advance to the next phase while the remains of Ran Gvili, an Israeli police officer killed during the attack, are still in Gaza. Gvili’s parents met Monday in Florida with Netanyahu, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, according to the Hostages and Missing Families Forum. They are expected to meet Trump later in the day.
“They’re waiting for their son to come home,” Trump said. The family has urged that no transition to the next phase of the ceasefire occur until Hamas fulfills its remaining commitments.
Trump’s broader 20-point plan for Gaza, which has been approved by the U.N. Security Council, envisions the end of Hamas rule, the reconstruction of a demilitarized Gaza under international oversight, and the creation of a U.S.-led body known as the Board of Peace. Under the proposal, Palestinians would form a technocratic, nonpolitical committee to manage daily governance, while an International Stabilization Force would oversee security during reconstruction under a renewable U.N. mandate.
The plan also calls for broader normalization between Israel and Arab states and outlines a possible pathway toward Palestinian independence. However, major obstacles remain, including disagreements over the mandate of the proposed stabilization force and delays in approving members of the Palestinian governing committee.
A Western diplomat familiar with the talks said there is a significant gap between how the U.S. and Israel envision the force’s role and how regional and European governments view it, with some countries concerned that disarming Hamas would turn the force into an occupation presence. Hamas has said it is willing to discuss limiting or storing its weapons but insists it retains a right to armed resistance.
Trump also renewed his public call for Israeli President Isaac Herzog to grant Netanyahu a pardon as the prime minister continues to face trial on corruption-related charges. Netanyahu has denied wrongdoing in the cases, which include allegations of fraud, breach of trust and bribery.
“He’s a wartime prime minister who’s a hero,” Trump said. “How do you not give a pardon?”
Whether Monday’s meeting will yield concrete progress on Iran or Gaza remains unclear, though both leaders signaled continued coordination as regional tensions persist.
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