Israeli PM Netanyahu to Meet Trump for Talks on Second Phase of Gaza Ceasefire Plan

Netanyahu Set to Meet Trump as Talks Advance Toward Second Phase of Gaza Ceasefire

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that he will meet U.S. President Donald Trump later this month to discuss advancing the second phase of the U.S.-brokered Gaza ceasefire plan. Despite a truce taking effect on October 10, full calm has yet to be reached, with both Israel and Hamas accusing each other of violating the agreement.

Netanyahu, speaking alongside Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Jerusalem, said the next stage of negotiations will be “more difficult” and will require decisions on long-standing political and security challenges. The meeting with Trump is scheduled for the end of December, with Netanyahu emphasizing that discussions will center around “opportunities for peace” in the region.

Phase One Concludes as Remaining Hostages Released

Under the first phase of the ceasefire deal, Palestinian militants released 47 Israeli hostages, both living and deceased, except for the body of an Israeli police officer still held in Gaza. Mediators consider this stage largely complete, setting the stage for deeper political and security discussions.

What Phase Two of the Ceasefire Proposal Involves

The second phase of the U.S. plan includes complex steps such as:

• Enforcing Hamas disarmament

• A broader withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza

• Deployment of an international stabilization force to maintain order

Merz stressed that phase two “must come now,” reaffirming Germany’s support for a two-state solution as the path toward long-term peace.

Hamas Signals Conditional Willingness to Disarm

Hamas negotiator Khalil al-Hayya stated that the group would surrender its weapons only if Israel ends its occupation. He emphasized that arms are tied to resisting aggression, saying they would transfer weapons to the “authority of the state” once occupation ceases.

However, he clarified that discussions are still ongoing and that disarmament remains a contentious issue between Hamas, mediators, and other Palestinian factions.

Israel continues to insist that disarmament is a non-negotiable requirement for the second phase of the ceasefire plan.

Casualties Continue Despite the Truce

Local health authorities report that over 360 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza during the ceasefire period, bringing the total death toll to 70,360 since the conflict began.
On the Israeli side, three soldiers have been killed since the truce came into force.

Humanitarian agencies warn that continued violence threatens to derail progress as negotiators attempt to stabilize conditions before the next phase begins.

In complex geopolitical and regulatory environments, transparent financial governance remains essential for both public institutions and private businesses. If your organization needs reliable compliance support, explore professional auditing services in India trusted by growing enterprises: Shunyatax Global