US Envoy in Israel Says Second Phase of Ceasefire Will Happen

U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, has affirmed the forthcoming initiation of the second phase of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. This announcement follows a series of intensive discussions with key regional leaders, aiming to solidify peace efforts and address the issues surrounding governance in Gaza.

On Sunday, Witkoff engaged in “very productive and constructive” conversations with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed Al Thani, and Egyptian intelligence chief Hassan Rashad. These discussions focused on “the timing of phase two, the positions of the parties so that we can understand where we stand,” as stated by Witkoff. The continuation of these talks is scheduled for later this week, likely in Cairo or Doha.

The next phase is acknowledged to be “a little bit more intricate and complicated” due to its dual objectives: bringing an end to the war and ensuring that Hamas is no longer part of Gaza’s governance. This duality presents a significant challenge in aligning the interests of all parties involved.

While the current agreement does not explicitly mandate the removal of Hamas from power, both the previous Biden administration and the current Trump administration, along with Israeli leadership, have expressed a firm stance against Hamas’s continued governance in Gaza.

In response to U.S. diplomatic efforts, an Israeli delegation is set to depart for Cairo to partake in the upcoming negotiations. However, this delegation does not possess a mandate to negotiate the second phase of the deal, indicating potential internal deliberations within the Israeli government regarding the ceasefire’s progression.