A drone view of the lighting up of a Christmas tree in Manger Square outside the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem in the Israeli-occupied West Bank
JERUSALEM: Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said the second phase of a US plan to end the war in Gaza was close, but cautioned several key issues still needed to be resolved, including whether a multinational security force would be deployed in the Gaza strip. Netanyahu, speaking to reporters alongside German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, said that he would hold talks with US President Donald Trump at the end of the month on how to ensure the plan’s second phase was achieved.The prime minister’s office in Nov said that Trump had invited Netanyahu to the White House “in the near future”.A Hamas member said Sunday the group is ready to discuss “freezing or storing” its arsenal of weapons as part of its ceasefire with Israel, offering a possible formula to resolve one of the thorniest issues in the agreement. Bassem Naim, a member of Hamas’ decision-making political bureau, said, “We are open to have a comprehensive approach in order to avoid further escalations or clashes.” A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas is entering its second month, although both sides have accused each other of violating the truce agreement. Netanyahu said that it was important to ensure Hamas not only upholds the ceasefire but also follows through on “their commitment” to the plan to disarm and for Gaza to be demilitarised. According to the plan, Israel is to pull back further in the second phase as a transitional authority is established and a multinational security force is deployed, Hamas is disarmed, and reconstruction begins.A multinational coordination centre has been established in Israel, but there are no deadlines in the plan and officials involved say that efforts to advance it have stalled. “What will be the timeline? What are the forces that are coming in? Will we have international forces? If not, what are the alternatives? These are all topics that are being discussed,” Netanyahu said.Merz said that Germany was willing to help rebuild Gaza but would wait for Netanyahu’s meeting with Trump, and for clarity on what Washington was prepared to do, before Berlin decides what it would contribute but that phase two “must come now”.Won’t quit politics if I get a pardon: NetanyahuNetanyahu said on Sunday that he would not retire from politics if he receives a pardon from the president in years-long graft trial.
