Netanyahu to postpone talks on second phase of ceasefire deal
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wants to hold talks with US President Donald Trump before he goes back to the negotiations table on the Gaza ceasefire deal.
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US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shake hands at The Israel Museum in occupied al-Quds, occupied Palestine, May 23, 2017 (AP)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly seeking to gain the support of US President Donald Trump for his plans concerning the Gaza Strip during an upcoming meeting in Washington, scheduled for Tuesday, Axios reported.
The meeting could have significant consequences for the ceasefire in Gaza, with Netanyahu eager to understand Trump’s stance on the second phase of the ceasefire deal. This phase may involve a permanent ceasefire and the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.
Before proceeding with any decisions, Netanyahu intends to gauge Trump’s position on the deal. The start of negotiations with Hamas, initially scheduled for Monday, may be postponed, as Netanyahu has chosen to first consult with Trump, according to unnamed Israeli officials.
If Netanyahu opts not to pursue the second phase, the conflict in Gaza could continue for "up to another year" as the Israeli occupation "seeks to completely dismantle Hamas," officials said.
Second phase of Gaza deal will be in our favor: Senior Hamas official
Hamas' representative in Lebanon, Ahmad Abdel Hadi, told Al Mayadeen on Saturday that negotiations regarding the second phase of the prisoner exchange and ceasefire in Gaza "will be difficult, but the atmosphere is in our favor."
Abdel Hadi indicated that the Israeli officers and soldiers held captive by the Palestinian Resistance in Gaza are a negotiating chip for it.
The senior Hamas official affirmed that the outcomes of the second phase of negotiations "will be more favorable for the Resistance," explaining that "the current atmosphere is more positive than before, which strengthens the Resistance’s position."
"All circumstances and contexts indicate that the ceasefire agreement will continue," even though the Israeli occupation will raise the bar and introduce new conditions, he noted.
In the same context, Abdel Hadi asserted, "There is no indication that the agreement will collapse," noting that US President Donald Trump approved the agreement as part of a strategic vision for his new administration.
Earlier, Israeli Channel 12 reported that mediators involved in the prisoner exchange deal between "Israel" and the Palestinian Resistance are exploring the possibility of expediting its implementation.
Ehud Yaari, the channel’s Arab affairs analyst, indicated that the suggestion aims to facilitate larger exchanges within shorter timeframes by merging and streamlining certain phases of the process.
