Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that the Gaza ceasefire plan brokered with U.S. support is expected to move into its second phase “very shortly,” warning that the next stage will be more difficult than the first.
Speaking alongside Germany’s opposition leader Friedrich Merz in Jerusalem, Netanyahu said the initial phase of the agreement – which included a halt in fighting, humanitarian access and several security arrangements – was “all but completed.” He said the transition to phase two depends on the final steps outlined in the framework, including the handover of the remains of the last Israeli hostage from the 2023 war.
The second phase of the plan, as described by Israeli officials and U.S. mediators, involves the beginning of Gaza’s demilitarisation, the withdrawal of Israeli forces, and preparations for a transitional governing body under international oversight. The proposal also foresees deploying a multinational security force to stabilize the territory and support reconstruction.
Netanyahu said he would meet U.S. President Donald Trump later this month to discuss moving the process forward and ensuring that “Hamas can no longer rearm or rebuild.”
Hamas has not publicly confirmed its commitment to the disarmament measures. Regional actors have also warned that security conditions in Gaza remain fragile, with concerns over how weapons collection, force deployment and governance reforms would be implemented.
International officials say the agreement’s success depends on strict sequencing and compliance by all parties, noting that setbacks in any of the plan’s components could delay or derail the transition.
