Netanyahu says Israel is preparing to enter second phase of Gaza ceasefire deal 'very soon'
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that Israel intends to pass “very soon” to the second phase of the cease-fire agreement in Gaza. The agreement is being mediated by the United States, with Netanyahu also warning that this stage will be one “difficult”.
Benjamin Netanyahu. PHOTO: Profimedia
“We discussed how to end the power of Hamas in Gaza (…) we completed the first phase (…) then, we expect to move very soon to the second phase, which is more difficult or equally difficult,” Netanyahu said at the end of a meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
Mainly, the second phase of the agreement involves the disarmament of Hamas, the organization that has exclusively controlled the Gaza Strip since 2007.
Although it has so far rejected this option, the Islamist movement said on Saturday that it would be willing to hand over weapons to a Palestinian Authority, “if occupation” ceases in the enclave.
According to Reuters, Benjamin Netanyahu also announced that he will meet with US President Donald Trump at the end of December. The meeting will discuss possible opportunities for peace and an end to Hamas's dominance in the enclave, Netanyahu said.
Negotiations on the next steps in Trump's plan to end the two-year war in the Palestinian enclave continue. The plan also included the release of Israeli hostages and the establishment of an interim Palestinian technocratic government in Gaza, overseen by a “peace council” international and supported by an international security force.
