Israeli PM agrees to advance to second phase of Gaza ceasefire deal

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed during his meeting with US President Donald Trump to proceed to “phase two” of the Gaza ceasefire agreement, two senior US officials familiar with the discussions, confirmed.

The officials said the decision followed extensive deliberations, with Netanyahu expressing deep reservations about the Gaza track but ultimately allowing space for further diplomatic progress, Axios reports.

“Netanyahu was very skeptical about Gaza during the meeting, but he gave us room to move forward to the second phase of the ceasefire agreement,” a senior US official said.

As part of the understanding, Trump committed to Netanyahu that if Hamas fails to honor the ceasefire agreement or does not begin disarming, he would allow Israel to resume military operations against the group, the officials said.

The agreement marks a critical step in the broader effort to stabilize Gaza following months of conflict. Under the proposed framework, the second phase is expected to include expanded humanitarian measures and political arrangements aimed at transitioning governance in the territory.

Looking ahead, Trump is expected to announce in January the formal transition to phase two, alongside the establishment of the Gaza Board of Peace and the formation of a new Palestinian technocratic government, according to US officials.

The first meeting of the Gaza Board of Peace, to be chaired by Trump, is scheduled to take place on January 23 on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Neither the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office nor the White House provided additional comment beyond Trump’s public statements.

By Vafa Guliyeva