Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu Announces Potential Second Phase of Gaza Ceasefire
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israel and Hamas are expected to move into the second phase of their ceasefire agreement. This development follows the anticipated return of the remains of the last Israeli hostage held in Gaza. The second phase involves the disarming of Hamas and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, potentially starting by the end of the month. The ceasefire's progression is contingent upon the return of Ran Gvili's remains, a police officer killed in the October 7, 2023, attack. The ceasefire plan, led by U.S. President Donald Trump, also includes deploying an international force to secure Gaza and forming a temporary Palestinian government. However, challenges remain as Hamas has not yet retrieved all remains due to rubble from Israel's offensive. Israel has threatened to resume military operations if the remains are not returned.