Israel’s position that phase two of the Gaza ceasefire cannot begin without the final hostage being returned is intended to pressure Hamas rather than halt the U.S. plan, analyst Nuno Wahnon Martins tells AnewZ.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet U.S. President Donald Trump in Miami at the end of the month as Washington pushes to advance its Gaza ceasefire roadmap. The shift to phase two remains tied to Israel’s demand for the last hostage’s remains, but Netanyahu has already indicated the transition is expected “very shortly”.
Speaking to AnewZ from Brussels, political analyst Nuno Wahnon Martins said the condition “does not freeze the plan”. Instead, he described it as a tactical move to increase pressure on Hamas, which he argues faces the toughest stage of the process as the second phase challenges both its military capability and its political control in Gaza.
Martins said both Israel and Hamas recognise that phase two “will take place sooner or later”, with current talks centred on who will manage parts of Gaza after Hamas is removed from day-to-day governance. He referenced Netanyahu’s quiet consultations with former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair on possible administrative roles for a reformed Palestinian Authority.
According to Martins, Trump is pushing Netanyahu on three fronts: coordination with Egypt on Gaza and regional gas issues, a recalibrated approach to Syria, and follow-up discussions with a U.S. envoy after recent disagreements. Qatar and Egypt, he added, remain crucial mediators capable of advancing Hamas’s consent to the next stage.
While reports of isolated Israeli strikes, including in Jabalia, illustrate the fragility on the ground, Martins said he does not expect a return to large-scale fighting. With Washington committed to its 20-point Gaza plan, he argued that neither side wants to break the current ceasefire framework.
Humanitarian access remains the unresolved challenge. Martins noted ongoing disagreements between Israel and UN agencies, limited aid flows and worsening winter conditions, warning that reconstruction and safe corridors will depend on an agreed neutral mechanism.
For now, he believes U.S. leverage over Israel and mediator influence on Hamas will keep the process moving. Israel’s hostage condition, he said, is a negotiating instrument rather than a barrier, with the decisive questions ahead centred on security, disarmament and the governance of post-conflict Gaza.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran has “no trust” in the United States and will only consider negotiations if Was...
Georgia is positioning itself as a future energy bridge between the Caspian and Europe, backed by major infrastruc...
Uzbekistan’s Department for Combating Economic Crimes says it has uncovered a ...
Russia and Ukraine exchanged prisoners of war as well as...
Iran’s Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned that the U.S. military blockade of Iran’s southern ports could trigger a n...
Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump are holding high-level talks in Beijing on Thursday, following a ceremonial welcome, with both leaders highlighting cooperation despite ongoing tensions.
U.S. President Donald Trump’s meeting with President Xi Jinping in Beijing comes as China enters a period of strategic consolidation aimed at building a parallel international system to Washington’s, a China specialist has said.
A storm in a teacup. Despite Ukrainian threats to attack the Victory Day parade in Moscow on 9 May, and Russia’s warning that it would bomb downtown Kyiv in retaliation, in the end nothing happened. But why?
U.S. President Donald Trump’s three-day summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing, beginning on Wednesday (13 May), comes as rivalry between the two superpowers reaches new heights, a China analyst has said.
The U.S.-Israeli war with Iran loomed over U.S. President Donald Trump's visit to China, as signs emerged that the conflict is causing a shift in alliances across the Middle East.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran has “no trust” in the United States and will only consider negotiations if Washington shows seriousness. His remarks came as talks on Iran’s nuclear programme continued, with Trump and Xi also opposing Iran acquiring nuclear weapons.
Thousands of fans turned out in Iran's capital Tehran for a massive farewell ceremony on Wednesday night for their national football team, wishing them success before their departure for the World Cup 2026 matches co-hosted by the United States and Mexico.
Ukraine has stepped up attacks on Russian energy facilities in recent months, amid stalled progress in peace negotiations. The strikes have targeted refineries, processing plants, pipelines and export infrastructure, causing repeated disruptions across Russia’s energy sector.
Negotiations between Samsung Electronics and its workforce on Wednesday have broken down, officials said, raising fresh concerns over potential disruption to South Korea’s export-heavy economy.
Uzbekistan has launched a nationwide environmental initiative titled ‘Day Without Cars’, which will take place twice a month as part of efforts to improve air quality and reduce vehicle emissions.
The thirteenth session of the World Urban Forum will open in Baku on Sunday, bringing together government representatives, city leaders, urban planners, international organisations, businesses and civil society to discuss the future of sustainable urban development.
Children laughed, applauded and watched wide-eyed as animated characters lit up the screen at the opening of the ninth Animafilm International Animation Festival in Baku, where filmmakers and audiences from around the world gathered to celebrate the growing influence of animated cinema.
Leaders of the Organisation of Turkic States (OTS) gathered in the Kazakh city of Turkistan for an informal summit focused on strengthening cooperation in trade, transport, energy and regional connectivity as the bloc seeks to expand its geopolitical and economic influence across Eurasia.
Georgia is positioning itself as a future energy bridge between the Caspian and Europe, backed by major infrastructure plans and growing EU support. But behind the ambitious pitch lies a far more complicated political reality.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment