Daijiworld Media Network – Gaza
Gaza, Dec 8: As Israel and Hamas prepare to move into phase two of the United States-led blueprint aimed at ending the devastating Gaza war, sharp differences have emerged over the proposed role of an international stabilisation force in the enclave.
Senior Hamas official Basem Naim said on Sunday that the US draft still required “a lot of clarifications”. While the group was open to discussing “freezing or storing” weapons during the ongoing truce, he made it clear that Hamas would not accept any foreign force overseeing disarmament.
“We welcome a UN force near the borders to supervise the ceasefire, monitor violations and prevent escalations,” Naim said. “But we will not accept any force having mandates inside Palestinian territory.”
His remarks came hours after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that he would meet US President Donald Trump later this month to discuss moving into the next phase of the plan. Netanyahu said the focus would be on ending Hamas governance in Gaza and ensuring complete demilitarisation.
“We have a second phase, no less daunting — achieving the disarmament of Hamas and the demilitarisation of Gaza,” Netanyahu said during a joint press conference with visiting German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
It remains unclear whether Hamas’s offer to freeze or store weapons will meet Israel’s demand for full disarmament. Naim reiterated that the group retains its “right to resist”, adding that laying down arms would only be possible as part of a broader process towards establishing a Palestinian state, potentially linked to a long-term truce of five to ten years.
The US-drafted 20-point plan keeps the possibility of Palestinian independence open, but Netanyahu has repeatedly rejected such an outcome, arguing it would “reward Hamas”. The blueprint outlines broad ideas — including creation of a stabilisation force and a technocratic Palestinian government overseen by an international “board of peace” — but lacks clear timelines or operational details.
While Washington expects “boots on the ground” early next year and nations like Indonesia have agreed to contribute troops, the force’s structure, command and mandates remain undefined. Netanyahu acknowledged these gaps, saying, “What will be the timeline? What forces are coming? Will we have international forces? If not, what are the alternatives? These are all under discussion.”
According to Israeli officials, phase two will only begin once Hamas returns the last remaining Israeli captive — a policeman killed during the October 7 attack. Netanyahu warned that the next stage would be “more difficult”.
Even phase one has faced significant challenges. Despite the truce, Israeli strikes have continued, killing more than 370 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials, while Israel accuses Hamas of stalling captive returns. Under the plan’s initial steps, Israeli troops withdrew behind a so-called “yellow line”, though Israel still controls 53 percent of Gaza. Military chief Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir described the yellow line as “a new border line”.
“We maintain operational control over extensive parts of the Gaza Strip and will stay on these defensive lines,” Zamir said.
At the Doha Forum on Saturday, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani warned that the fragile truce was at a “critical moment” and could collapse without swift progress towards a permanent agreement. He stressed that a genuine ceasefire required a full Israeli withdrawal and restoration of stability and movement for Palestinians.
Amid renewed diplomatic engagement, Israeli and Qatari officials met with US counterparts in an effort to repair strained ties following Israel’s air strike on Doha in September, Axios reported.