Officials told Hebrew media on Thursday that Trump’s announcement of the second phase of the peace plan could happen before the Christmas holidays, after which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to meet with Trump in Washington.
U.S. officials said the United States and mediators are currently in talks with the Palestinian militant group Hamas on a deal that would see the group relinquish its rule in Gaza and begin a disarmament process, key issues in the second phase that have remained unresolved since a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas took effect in October.
According to the agreement, Hamas would first give up heavy weapons such as missiles and rockets, and later give up light weapons as well.
Hamas’s acceptance of the agreement would be a precondition for the implementation of the second phase of the plan, which involves the withdrawal of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) across the current Yellow Line that divides the Gaza Strip.
The second phase of the plan, which neither Israel nor Hamas has yet signed, also calls for the establishment of a Trump-led Peace Committee to oversee the governance of Gaza, along with the establishment of an international stabilization force to secure the Gaza Strip.
(Vijesti.ba)
