Daijiworld Media Network - Jerusalem
Jerusalem, Dec 9: Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that the second phase of the US-brokered Gaza peace plan is “very close”, even as crucial issues—including Hamas disarmament—remain unresolved.
Under President Donald Trump’s roadmap, Israel must pull back more troops from Gaza while a transitional authority takes shape and an international security force is deployed. Hamas is expected to give up its weapons as reconstruction begins.
Netanyahu cautioned that the next stage “will be more difficult or equally difficult”, adding that he would discuss the unresolved elements with President Trump during their scheduled meeting on December 29.
The push to move into Phase-2 comes as mediators, including the US and Qatar, intensify pressure on both sides. Yet daily accusations of ceasefire violations continue, with Israeli forces still controlling over half of Gaza and Hamas re-establishing itself in the remainder.
Amid concerns over disarmament, senior Hamas official Bassem Naim told the Associated Press that the group was open to talks on “freezing or storing” its weapons to prevent future escalations. Hamas has long maintained it would not surrender its arsenal without the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.
Netanyahu, however, has expressed doubts over whether a proposed multinational force could successfully disarm Hamas. “Are there volunteers? They can’t do everything—and maybe not the main thing,” he remarked, insisting that disarmament “will be done, the easy way or the hard way”.
Arab media outlets reported that Red Cross teams and Hamas fighters have resumed searches for the remains of Israeli police officer Sgt Ran Gvili in Gaza City’s Zeitoun area. Gvili, killed in the 7 October 2023 Hamas attacks, is supposed to be returned under the original ceasefire deal. “We’ll get him out,” Netanyahu said on Sunday.
Two months into the ceasefire, humanitarian concerns remain pressing. Gaza health officials report more than 370 Palestinians killed since the truce began, while Israel blames ongoing strikes on Palestinian violations. Three Israeli soldiers have died in recent clashes, with dozens of Hamas members reportedly hiding in tunnels in southern Gaza.
Tensions also persist over the Rafah crossing. Israel has offered to reopen it only for outbound travel, a move rejected by Egypt and Palestinian authorities, who insist the crossing must function both ways as per earlier agreements.
The first phase of the deal saw 20 living Israeli hostages and the remains of 28 others returned, in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian detainees. Israel says Hamas is delaying the release of the remaining bodies.
Qatar’s Prime Minister has described the current stage as “a critical moment”, while President Trump has reiterated that Phase-2 is expected to unfold “pretty soon”.