US mediator Jared Kushner meets Israeli PM Netanyahu to discuss Gaza ceasefire phase two, including Hamas disarmament and international stabilisation force.
JERUSALEM: US mediator Jared Kushner and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire during talks on Monday.
The meeting focused on stabilising the current truce and planning for future arrangements in the conflict-ridden territory.
Netanyahu vowed to enforce ceasefire agreements in both Gaza and Lebanon with an “iron fist” during a parliamentary address.
The Gaza truce, now in effect for one month, has largely halted hostilities that began with Hamas’s October 2023 attack on Israel.
Phase one involved recent prisoner and hostage exchanges between the warring parties.
Israeli government spokeswoman Shosh Bedrosian said the leaders discussed “the disarming of Hamas, demilitarising Gaza and ensuring Hamas will have no role in the future of Gaza ever again”.
Phase two also includes establishing an international stabilisation force with details still under discussion.
Hamas has repeatedly insisted that relinquishing its weapons remains a red line.
Gaza’s health ministry reported at least 242 Palestinian deaths since the ceasefire began on October 10.
The Israeli military said it killed two militants who approached the “Yellow Line” boundary on Monday.
Netanyahu declared “whoever seeks to harm us, we harm them” regarding ceasefire enforcement.
Israel has maintained attacks on Lebanon, claiming to target Hezbollah militants despite a November ceasefire agreement.
The military reported killing 15 Hezbollah members this month.
Potential participants in the proposed Gaza stabilisation force include Egypt, Qatar and Turkey.
The United Arab Emirates indicated unlikely participation without a clear operational framework.
Emirati presidential adviser Anwar Gargash stated “the UAE will probably not participate in such a force” under current circumstances.
Turkey has expressed interest in joining, but Netanyahu has repeatedly rejected Turkish involvement.
Bedrosian confirmed “there will be no Turkish boots on the ground” according to the prime minister.
Michael Milshtein of Tel Aviv University said the stabilisation force decision ultimately rests with US President Donald Trump.
“There is a gap between the Israeli opinion and the American opinion but in the end, the only thing that matters is what Trump wants,” Milshtein told AFP.
Turkey issued arrest warrants on Friday accusing Netanyahu and senior Israeli officials of genocide.
Hamas has returned all 20 living hostages and 24 captives’ remains since the truce began.
Four bodies of hostages killed in the October 2023 attack remain in Gaza.
Israel has freed nearly 2,000 prisoners and returned 315 Palestinian captives’ bodies.
The latest exchange involved Israel returning 15 Palestinian remains on Monday.
Hamas had returned the remains of Lieutenant Hadar Goldin, killed in the 2014 Gaza war, a day earlier.
Goldin’s sister Ayelet said “time has stood still” since his death 11 years ago.
Gazans remain anxious despite progress in hostage returns.
“We still do not feel safe. Shooting continues,” said Salma Abu Shawish, a resident of Al-Bureij refugee camp.
The 40-year-old added “life in Gaza is hard. We still lack food, and many families remain homeless” while wishing “this nightmare would stop and never return”. – AFP
