Israel and Hamas are edging closer to embarking on the second phase of a US-backed plan aimed at ending Israel's devastating war on Gaza, but significant hurdles remain. The agreement is contingent on the international community's role in stabilizing the region.
Hamas officials have expressed concerns over the proposed deployment of an international stabilization force, with senior Hamas official Basem Naim stating that the group will not accept any mandates on Palestinian territory. The US-drafted plan calls for disarmament and demilitarization of Gaza, a demand that Netanyahu has long rejected, claiming it would reward Hamas.
Netanyahu announced that he would meet with former US President Donald Trump to discuss entering the next phase of the plan, which aims to end Hamas governance in Gaza and ensure its commitment to demilitarization. The Israeli prime minister emphasized that the second phase is more daunting, requiring full disarmament of Hamas and the demilitarization of Gaza.
Hamas officials, however, maintain their right to resist, with Naim suggesting that laying down arms could occur as part of a process leading to Palestinian statehood. Trump's 20-point plan provides a general framework for the establishment of an international stabilization force but lacks concrete details or timelines.
US officials expect "boots on the ground" early next year, but the roadmap for setting up the force remains unclear, and its exact makeup, command structure, and responsibilities have not been defined. Netanyahu acknowledged the vagueness of the plan, stating that discussions are ongoing regarding the timeline, forces involved, and alternatives to international intervention.
The plan's initial steps saw Israeli forces withdraw behind a "yellow line" in Gaza, but Israel remains in control of 53% of the territory. The Israeli military views this line as a new border, maintaining operational control over extensive parts of the Gaza Strip.
The truce is at a critical moment, with Qatari officials warning that it could unravel without rapid movement towards a permanent deal. A full withdrawal of Israeli forces and restored stability are essential for a true ceasefire. Despite growing momentum for phase two, significant challenges remain, including the international community's role in stabilizing the region.
In a recent meeting with US counterparts, Israeli and Qatari officials sought to rebuild relations after Israel's air strike on Doha in September. The success of the plan depends on addressing these concerns and finding a sustainable solution to end the conflict in Gaza.
Hamas officials have expressed concerns over the proposed deployment of an international stabilization force, with senior Hamas official Basem Naim stating that the group will not accept any mandates on Palestinian territory. The US-drafted plan calls for disarmament and demilitarization of Gaza, a demand that Netanyahu has long rejected, claiming it would reward Hamas.
Netanyahu announced that he would meet with former US President Donald Trump to discuss entering the next phase of the plan, which aims to end Hamas governance in Gaza and ensure its commitment to demilitarization. The Israeli prime minister emphasized that the second phase is more daunting, requiring full disarmament of Hamas and the demilitarization of Gaza.
Hamas officials, however, maintain their right to resist, with Naim suggesting that laying down arms could occur as part of a process leading to Palestinian statehood. Trump's 20-point plan provides a general framework for the establishment of an international stabilization force but lacks concrete details or timelines.
US officials expect "boots on the ground" early next year, but the roadmap for setting up the force remains unclear, and its exact makeup, command structure, and responsibilities have not been defined. Netanyahu acknowledged the vagueness of the plan, stating that discussions are ongoing regarding the timeline, forces involved, and alternatives to international intervention.
The plan's initial steps saw Israeli forces withdraw behind a "yellow line" in Gaza, but Israel remains in control of 53% of the territory. The Israeli military views this line as a new border, maintaining operational control over extensive parts of the Gaza Strip.
The truce is at a critical moment, with Qatari officials warning that it could unravel without rapid movement towards a permanent deal. A full withdrawal of Israeli forces and restored stability are essential for a true ceasefire. Despite growing momentum for phase two, significant challenges remain, including the international community's role in stabilizing the region.
In a recent meeting with US counterparts, Israeli and Qatari officials sought to rebuild relations after Israel's air strike on Doha in September. The success of the plan depends on addressing these concerns and finding a sustainable solution to end the conflict in Gaza.
. On one hand, it's awesome that there's some progress being made towards ending Israel's devastating war on Gaza 
. I mean, who wants to see innocent lives lost over territorial disputes? But at the same time, I'm not sure about this international stabilization force idea 
. It sounds like a whole lot of uncertainty and unpredictability to me. What exactly does that even look like in practice?
. Demilitarization and disarmament of Gaza? Come on, dude! That sounds like a recipe for disaster 
. I'm not buying it when he says the second phase is more daunting because of disarmament requirements 
.
. We need concrete details and timelines here! Can't just wave a magic wand and expect everything to work out 
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. Time for diplomacy and cooperation, not brinksmanship 
.
️.
. It feels like we're right back where we started, with the international community trying to step in and fix things. But Netanyahu is being super stubborn about disarmament and demilitarization... it just doesn't seem like a realistic solution to me.
. When are we talking about deploying "boots on the ground"? What exactly does that even mean? And what about the timeline? We need to know when we're aiming for a ceasefire, not just keep stringing people along.
. Can't we just get to a point where both sides are willing to listen and work together towards something real?
. Netanyahu says he's willing to talk to trump about it, but there are a lot of unanswered questions 
. It feels like they're just winging it and hoping for the best 
. I think that's where the real challenge is - finding a way to keep everyone safe and happy without making things worse 
.
Israel and Hamas are trying to move forward with this US-backed plan, but it's like they're taking two steps forward and one step back 
. It's also kinda crazy that Hamas isn't on board with disarmament, I get their perspective on resisting occupation, but at some point you gotta talk about a peaceful coexistence 
. Trump's 20-point plan sounds like it could be a good starting point, but we need to see more concrete details and timelines 
️. The fact that US officials are talking about boots on the ground early next year is making me nervous 
, can't we just get some peace and stability in Gaza already?