Israel to Begin Negotiations on Second Phase of Gaza Ceasefire Deal, Says Minister

Negotiations for the second phase of the deal were supposed to be under way before the first phase ends on 2 March, but Qatar said the talks have not started officially yet.

A “Hezbollah model” in Gaza would not be acceptable to Israel “and therefore we need a total demilitarisation of Gaza and no presence of the Palestinian Authority,” Saar told a press conference.

He added that Israel was aware of an alternative plan by Arab states for Gaza, made to counter US President Donald Trump’s proposal to redevelop the strip under US control, which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said is worthy of exploration.

Israel would not support a plan that would see civilian control of Gaza transferred from Hamas to the Palestinian Authority, insisted the foreign minister.