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| Israeli attacks on Palestine continue despite ceasefire in Gaza. Bulldozers are razing the Al-Farah refugee camp and residential buildings. Jenin City in the occupied West Bank. February 2 | Photo: AFP |
Discussions on the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire were scheduled to begin on Monday, even before the first phase's 42-day truce reached its 16th day. However, uncertainty over Israel’s delegation has cast doubt on the talks.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to visit the White House as the first foreign leader to meet U.S. President Donald Trump since his second term began. Netanyahu departed for Washington today, with analysts speculating that he may decide on the next phase of the ceasefire after he meets with Trump.
In Doha, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani held a joint press conference. Qatar, a key mediator in the ceasefire negotiations, stated that there is no clear plan yet for when discussions between Israel and Hamas will resume. Sheikh Mohammed added that Qatar is in contact with both parties to facilitate talks, hinting that progress may be seen in the coming days.
The first phase of the ceasefire, which began on January 19, followed 15 months of conflict between Hamas and Israel. During this time, both sides engaged in four rounds of prisoner exchanges, resulting in the release of 18 hostages and several hundred Palestinian detainees. The agreement outlines a three-phase truce, during which Hamas is expected to release all remaining hostages, both alive and deceased, while Israel withdraws its forces from Gaza.
According to Al Jazeera, citing an Israeli news outlet, Netanyahu is delaying sending a delegation to Qatar until after he meets with Trump. A senior Israeli source confirmed that Netanyahu made the decision to hold off on ceasefire talks until after his discussions in Washington.
Netanyahu has also canceled a meeting with top intelligence officials, including Mossad chief David Barnea and Shin Bet head Ronen Bar. Instead, he informed his military secretary, Roman Gofman, to reschedule the discussions.
The Times of Israel reported that Netanyahu is considering appointing Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer as the lead negotiator for this phase of the ceasefire, as he believes the talks are now more diplomatic than security-related.
Netanyahu Visits the U.S.
Before boarding his flight to Washington, Netanyahu stated that he and Trump would discuss securing victory over Hamas, the release of all hostages, and countering Iran’s "terror axis."
During his first term, Trump had declared that Israel had never had a better friend in the White House. Many believe he will continue this close relationship in his second term. Netanyahu emphasized that he sees his upcoming meeting with Trump as a testament to the strength of U.S.-Israel ties.
Meanwhile, Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi spoke by phone on Saturday regarding the ceasefire. The two leaders agreed on the need to strengthen the truce in Gaza. The White House also stated that they discussed Egypt’s role in securing hostage releases. Trump reportedly expressed confidence in his ability to restore peace in the Middle East.
Five Palestinians Killed in West Bank
Israeli forces have continued their military operations in the occupied West Bank’s Jenin area. On Saturday, five Palestinians were killed in separate attacks, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.
One of the victims was a 16-year-old boy, Ahmad Al-Sadi, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike in eastern Jenin, with two others injured. Two more Palestinians were killed near the town of Qabatiya, while another two were killed in central Jenin.
In a letter to UN Secretary-General António Guterres, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas reaffirmed his commitment to working with allied nations on Gaza’s reconstruction. He also expressed gratitude for Guterres’ firm stance against the forced displacement of Palestinians.