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US Pushes Gaza Ceasefire Phase Two; Netanyahu Resists
White House plans for a Palestinian technocratic government and staged Hamas disarmament in Gaza face pushback from Netanyahu, straining US-Israel ceasefire efforts.
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by Muhammad Hashir
2025-12-26
US Pushes Gaza Ceasefire Phase Two; Netanyahu Resists

According to Israel’s Channel 12, the US aims to move beyond phase one of the Gaza ceasefire in January by establishing a Palestinian technocratic government to oversee day-to-day governance in Gaza. The plan also includes a multinational peace council to monitor the government’s work and an international stabilization force to maintain security. US officials have suggested that President Donald Trump could announce the peace council at the Davos Economic Forum on January 19.

A senior White House official indicated that the US hopes to initiate staged disarmament of Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups under the technocratic government. However, Hamas has resisted full disarmament, with senior official Khaled Meshaal stating earlier this month that the group is open only to a temporary “freeze” on its weapons.

Reports from Israel’s Channel 13 and Channel 12 reveal that Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, briefed Israeli officials on the proposed ceasefire advancement, but Netanyahu expressed scepticism, particularly regarding Hamas’s disarmament. The reports come amid repeated Israeli violations of the October ceasefire, which have killed at least 406 Palestinians, including civilians, and restricted the delivery of essential aid such as meat, dairy, and vegetables. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz also declared that Israeli forces “will never leave Gaza,” contradicting the ceasefire plan’s stipulations.

US officials have expressed frustration with what they see as Israel’s delay tactics and disregard for ceasefire commitments. “It’s felt for some time as if the Israelis are having second thoughts about the Gaza agreement,” an unnamed US official told the media. “Implementation is already difficult, but sometimes the Israelis make it even harder.”

Analyst Daniel Levy, former Israeli government adviser and head of the US/Middle East Project, told Al Jazeera that Israel is unlikely to implement major provisions of the ceasefire, such as full withdrawal from Gaza and establishment of a legitimate Palestinian governance structure, without significant external pressure. “Israel has no intention of withdrawing from the rest of Gaza. It has no intention of allowing an international force that could limit its freedom of manoeuvre to kill Palestinians,” Levy said.

The White House’s push for phase two of the Gaza ceasefire highlights the ongoing challenges in enforcing a durable truce amid conflicting interests, repeated violations, and resistance from both Israeli and Palestinian actors.

 
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Palestine

Hamas

GazaCeasefire

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