Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that the second phase of the ceasefire in Gaza will begin “very shortly,” as Hamas is still searching for the remains of the last hostage in the Palestinian-controlled territory.
Hamas’s return of the remains of Ran Gvili, a 24-year-old police officer killed on Oct. 7, 2023, and taken to Gaza, will mark the end of the first phase that began in early October. As of Sunday afternoon, the group is still looking for Gvili’s remains, though Israeli outlet N12 previously reported Hamas knows where his body is.
Netanyahu suggested as much in comments on Sunday when he said the first phase was “finished.”
“We finished the first part,” Netanyahu said at a press conference with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. “And then we very shortly expect to move into the second phase, which is more difficult.”
The primary challenge of the second phase is the disarmament of Hamas, which Netanyahu stressed would be “no less daunting.”
But the terrorist group signaled earlier Sunday that it is open to at least some kind of disarmament.
Bassem Naim, a senior Hamas official, told the Associated Press the group is willing to discuss “freezing or storing” its weapons arsenal as part of the ceasefire.
“We are open to have a comprehensive approach in order to avoid further escalations or in order to avoid any further clashes or explosions,” Naim added.
ISRAEL-HAMAS CEASEFIRE HAS REACHED ‘CRITICAL MOMENT’ AHEAD OF SECOND PHASE: QATARI PRIME MINISTER
It is unclear if that would satisfy the ceasefire requirements.
Netanyahu will meet with President Donald Trump later this month, where they are reportedly expected to discuss the second phase. Around the same time, Trump is also expected to announce Gaza’s new governance structure, another key part of the ceasefire.
