Netanyahu says first phase of Gaza ceasefire plan is nearly complete

Benjamin Netanyahu said yesterday that the first phase of the UN-endorsed Gaza ceasefire plan was close to completion and that the second phase must involve the disarmament of Hamas.

- Julian Borger Tel Aviv Patrick Wintour Doha

The Israeli prime minister said he would discuss thenext steps later this month in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza proposals were codified ina UN security council resolution on 17 November.

“We're about to finish the first stage,” Netanyahu said. “But we have to make sure that we achieve the same resultsin the second stage, and that’s something I look forward to discussing with President Trump.”

An emphasis on Hamas disarmament may, however, prove contentious. The Turkish foreign minister, Hakan Fidan, speaking at an international forum in Doha, Qatar, said yesterday the priority ofan international stabilisation force to be set up in Gaza under the Trump proposals shouldbe the separation of Israeli troopsand Hamas rather than the disarmament of the Palestinian group.

“Disarmament cannot be the first stage in this process; Fidan said. “We need to proceed in the correct order and remain realistic.”