Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s confidant, Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer, met with President-elect Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago on Sunday, according to an Axios report citing Israeli and U.S. officials.

The meeting aimed to convey messages from Netanyahu and brief Trump on Israel’s near-term plans regarding Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran as Trump prepares to take office in January.

An Israeli official indicated that the discussions centered on priorities in regional issues.

"One of the things the Israelis wanted to sort out with Trump is what are the issues he prefers to see solved before January 20 and what are the issues he prefers the Israelis to wait for him," said a U.S. official familiar with the meeting.

Israeli-Saudi normalization, Israel-Lebanon ceasefire efforts, and plans for Gaza were reportedly among the main topics.

During his visit, Dermer also held talks with Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser. U.S. sources confirmed that Netanyahu had informed the Biden administration of Dermer’s meeting with Trump in advance.

Dermer, who served as Israel’s ambassador to Washington during Trump’s first administration, is set for a series of high-level meetings with Biden administration officials. Following his talks with Trump, Dermer arrived in Washington on Monday, where he met Secretary of State Antony Blinken and is expected to confer with White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan and other senior Biden advisers, including Brett McGurk and Amos Hochstein.

According to U.S. officials, Dermer’s discussions with Blinken included a U.S. ultimatum for Israel to improve Gaza’s humanitarian situation by November 13. Failure to meet this deadline could prompt the Biden administration to suspend arms supplies to Israel under U.S. law. 

Israeli officials reported that on Sunday night, Israel’s security cabinet approved measures to improve Gaza’s humanitarian conditions, including a significant increase in aid trucks entering the territory. However, Israeli officials admitted they may struggle to meet the U.S. target of 350 aid trucks per day.

U.S. sources noted Israel’s efforts to meet humanitarian goals but emphasized that further action was necessary to fully satisfy American demands. 

In addition to Gaza, Dermer’s meetings with Biden officials will address the ongoing ceasefire talks between Israel and Lebanon. Netanyahu has reportedly expressed a desire to end the conflict in Lebanon within weeks.

The Biden administration and Israel are also negotiating the wording of a letter that would establish a U.S. commitment to Israel’s security near the Lebanese border. The letter would allow Israel to take military action if the Lebanese army or UN peacekeepers fail to prevent Hezbollah from regrouping near the border or smuggling heavy weapons into Lebanon. However, U.S. officials disclosed that the two sides are still working on the final draft. 

"We just have a couple more things to work through with the Israeli side, but we are almost done," a U.S. official said. 

Any agreement with Israel would ultimately require consultation with Lebanese leaders, though Hezbollah has opposed terms that would allow Israel to take military action after a ceasefire. 

"There is no agreement at the moment. We think that deal is coming together, but like anything nothing done until it’s done," added a U.S. official.