Israel to begin negotiations on second phase of Gaza ceasefire deal
Reuters
Israel is set to begin negotiations on the second phase of its Gaza ceasefire deal, which is expected to include an exchange of the remaining Israeli hostages with Palestinian detainees, Foreign Minister Gideon Saar announced on Tuesday.
The discussions, which were planned to commence before the first phase of the ceasefire expires on March 2, have not yet officially started, according to Qatari officials.
At a press conference, Saar emphasized that a complete demilitarisation of Gaza is a core demand for Israel. “A Hezbollah model in Gaza would not be acceptable,” he stated, adding that Israel requires no presence of the Palestinian Authority in the enclave as part of the demilitarisation process.
Saar also mentioned that Israel is aware of an alternative plan proposed by Arab states for managing Gaza. This plan is seen as a counter to U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposal to redevelop the strip under U.S. control—a proposal that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has indicated is “worthy of exploration.” However, Saar made it clear that Israel would not support any arrangement that would see civilian control of Gaza transferred from Hamas to the Palestinian Authority.
The announcement comes amid ongoing efforts to solidify the ceasefire and address the long-standing challenges in the region, with hostilities and political tensions continuing to complicate prospects for a comprehensive resolution.
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