Agency- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced that he will meet U.S. President Donald Trump later this month to discuss the second phase of Washington’s proposed ceasefire plan for Gaza. Despite a U.S.-brokered truce that came into effect on October 10, full calm in the territory has not been achieved, and both Israel and Hamas continue to accuse each other of violating the agreement.
Speaking in Jerusalem alongside visiting German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Netanyahu said preparations were underway for the next stage of the U.S. plan, which he described as more complex. He confirmed that he will hold talks with Trump at the end of December to explore “opportunities for peace” in the region.
Merz urged that phase two must begin without delay and reiterated Germany’s position in support of a two-state solution.
In the first phase of the truce, Palestinian militants released 47 remaining Israeli hostages, both living and deceased, except for the body of an Israeli police officer. The second phase of the U.S. proposal is expected to focus on key issues such as the disarmament of Hamas, further withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, and the deployment of an international stabilization force.
Hamas leader in Gaza, Khalil al-Hayya, said in an interview with Al Jazeera that the group is willing to hand over its weapons if the Israeli occupation ends, stating that their armed activities are tied to the continuation of occupation and aggression. He noted that discussions involving weapons and other conditions are ongoing with mediators and emphasized that the agreement is still at an early stage.
Israel has continued to insist that Hamas and other Palestinian factions must disarm as a core requirement for the next phase of the ceasefire. Hamas, however, had previously rejected disarmament as a non-negotiable red line.
Despite the truce, more than 360 Palestinians have been killed during this period, raising the overall Palestinian death toll to 70,360, according to Gaza health authorities. Israel has also reported the deaths of three soldiers since the ceasefire began.
