Second phase of Gaza peace plan: Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu makes important announcement

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has hinted at talks on the second phase of US President Donald Trump's Gaza peace plan.

- Netanyahu to meet US President Donald Trump later this month -

According to the British news agency Reuters, on Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, while holding a joint press conference in Jerusalem with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, said that he would meet with US President Donald Trump later this month to ensure the completion of the second phase of the project.

Netanyahu said that important decisions are about to be made regarding the second phase of the post-ceasefire phase in Gaza, but several issues are still under consideration, including the deployment of a multinational security force.

The Israeli Prime Minister's Office said in November that Trump had invited Netanyahu to the White House in the near future, but the date of the visit has not yet been announced.

He said he would discuss with Trump how to end Hamas's occupation of Gaza. The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has entered its second month, but both sides have repeatedly accused each other of violating the ceasefire agreement.

Netanyahu added that it is essential that Hamas not only maintain the ceasefire but also implement a plan under which it lays down its arms and demilitarizes Gaza.

The first phase of Trump’s plan saw Israel retain 53 percent of Gaza, which included the release of hostages held by militants and Palestinians in Israeli custody. The last hostage was an Israeli police officer who died fighting militants who had crossed into Israel from Gaza on October 7, 2023. Netanyahu said: “We will get him out.”

Since the ceasefire began in October, the militant group has re-established its presence in the rest of Gaza.

According to the plan, in the second phase, Israel will withdraw further, an interim authority will be established in Gaza, a multinational security force will be deployed, Hamas weapons will be confiscated and reconstruction will begin. A multinational cooperation center has been established in Israel, but according to officials, efforts to move the plan forward have stalled.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Germany was ready to help rebuild Gaza but would wait for clarification on Washington's role after Netanyahu and Trump met. He stressed that the second phase "must begin now."

Israel has carried out several airstrikes since the ceasefire, which it says are aimed at defense or militant infrastructure. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, 373 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire, while three Israeli soldiers have been killed by militants.

Netanyahu said he would also discuss "peace opportunities" with Trump, a reference to American efforts to build Israel's relations with Arab and Muslim states.

"We believe that there is a path forward to a broader peace with the Arab states and the possibility of establishing a workable peace with the Palestinian neighbors," he added. He also said that Israel will always insist on security control over the West Bank.

Trump has assured Muslim leaders that Israel will not annex the West Bank, where Netanyahu's government is supporting the expansion of Jewish settlements, but according to Netanyahu, the "question of political annexation" of the West Bank is still under discussion.