Gaza City – Uncertainty surrounds the future of the Gaza ceasefire agreement following a recent meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump. Despite hopes that the meeting would pave the way for the implementation of the second phase of the agreement, renewed Israeli military activity in the Gaza Strip has cast a shadow over the prospects for progress.
Israeli forces have continued to conduct intensive operations in various areas of Gaza, raising questions among analysts about the feasibility of moving forward with the ceasefire. These actions occur amid reports of understandings reached between Washington and Tel Aviv.
Mark Fiveal, former U.S. National Security Advisor, suggests that the Trump-Netanyahu meeting may not have yielded significant results, potentially hindering the advancement of the Gaza agreement. He noted that the two leaders reportedly discussed three undisclosed topics. The issue of disarming Hamas was also raised, but without a clear mechanism for achieving this goal.
Fiveal expressed skepticism about the possibility of transitioning to the second phase of the agreement, arguing that the U.S. administration has essentially given the Israeli military a free hand to operate in Gaza. He stated that the current situation does not reflect a genuine commitment to de-escalation.
Meanwhile, Muhand Mustafa, an expert on Israeli affairs, believes that Netanyahu secured a promise from Trump that Israeli forces would not withdraw from Gaza even if the second phase of the agreement commences. He also suggests that the U.S. has signaled its understanding of potential Israeli military operations against Hamas and other Palestinian factions.
Mustafa argues that Israel continues to violate the ceasefire agreement by targeting Palestinian infrastructure, particularly east of the demarcation line. He believes these actions are intended to create a pretext for initiating the second phase of the agreement in these areas, allowing Israel to establish a permanent military presence.
According to Mustafa, the escalation of Israeli operations in Gaza began after Hamas handed over living Israeli prisoners. He further speculates that Israel is unlikely to withdraw its forces from the Gaza Strip before the upcoming Israeli elections.
