CHIKUN/KAJURU REP, HON. FIDELIX BAGUDU, ANNOUNCES NEW APPOINTMENTS TO STRENGTHEN INCLUSIVE GOVERNANCE. (PHOTO).
Netanyahu says Israel and Hamas set to enter second phase of ceasefire soon
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that Israel and Hamas are expected to move “very shortly” into the second phase of the ceasefire, following the return of the last hostage remains from Gaza. Speaking alongside visiting German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Netanyahu said the next stage, which includes disarming Hamas and demilitarizing Gaza, could begin by the end of the month.
The final remains of 24-year-old police officer Ran Gvili, killed in the Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023, attack, have yet to be returned. The second phase of the U.S.-crafted ceasefire plan also calls for an international force to secure Gaza and the establishment of a temporary Palestinian government to manage daily affairs under an internationally supervised board led by U.S. President Donald Trump. Netanyahu acknowledged the challenges ahead, saying that while the first phase seemed impossible to many, the second stage—and eventual deradicalization of Gaza—can be achieved if Hamas is dismantled.
Hamas claims some remains are buried under rubble from Israel’s two-year offensive, while Israel has threatened to resume military operations or withhold humanitarian aid if the remains are not returned. Germany is assisting by sending officers and diplomats to a U.S.-led civilian and military coordination center in southern Israel, along with humanitarian aid to Gaza. Merz reaffirmed Germany’s support for Israel and reiterated that recognition of a Palestinian state should only occur at the conclusion of peace negotiations.
Separately, Israeli forces reported killing a militant near the Yellow Line separating Israeli-controlled areas of Gaza from the rest of the territory. Gaza’s Health Ministry said over 370 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire began, including six reported in the last 24 hours. The 2023 Hamas-led attack killed around 1,200 people and left more than 250 hostages, most of whose remains have now been returned. Gaza’s Health Ministry reports that at least 70,360 Palestinians have died during Israel’s offensive, nearly half of them women and children, though it does not differentiate civilians from combatants.
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