Netanyahu says Israel set to enter second phase of Gaza truce ‘shortly’

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that he expects the second phase of the US-backed Gaza ceasefire plan to begin “very soon.”

Speaking at a joint press conference with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz after a meeting between the two leaders, Netanyahu said: “We discussed how to bring an end to the Hamas rule in Gaza… We finished the first part… And then we very shortly expect to move into the second phase, which is more difficult.”

Additionally, Netanyahu said he would meet US President Donald Trump “later this month” for discussions on Middle East peace. Although Netanyahu did not specify the venue, his office noted that he was invited to the White House following a phone call with Trump on Monday.

More from World

Why has Israeli PM Netanyahu sought a presidential pardon? What happens next? 'It's a shame': Netanyahu and his far-right coalition boycott vote backing Trump's Gaza plan

Also read | Israel's new Mossad chief has never worked in intelligence: Who is he?

‘Critical moment’

Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said that negotiations regarding the US-backed truce in Gaza have reached a “critical moment” as efforts are underway to transition into the peace plan’s next phase.

Speaking at the Doha Forum, the Prime Minister asserted that the current halt in fighting should be viewed only as a “pause,” not a definitive ceasefire. He clarified that a true ceasefire necessitates two key conditions that have yet to be met: the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip and the establishment of full stability, allowing the unrestricted movement of people and goods.

As a primary mediator, Qatar is working with other guarantors to advance the second phase of the peace plan, which involves deploying an international stabilisation force and creating an interim technocratic Palestinian government.

Quick Reads

View All

Trump orders probe into food supply chain month after prices cost GOP key elections

‘Send Usha back’: JD Vance’s remark on migration unleashes wave of online outrage

However, Sheikh Mohammed stressed that any immediate resolution for Gaza would be insufficient without addressing the conflict’s deeper roots.

He insisted that the path to a lasting peace must ultimately include securing the rights of the Palestinians for their own state, arguing that the West Bank and the broader need for justice must be central to the final solution.