Role of Turkey bedevils talks on phase two of Gaza peace plan

Israeli PM objects to deployment of Turkish troops as part of security force in Gaza

- Jonathan Eyal Global Affairs Correspondent

Internally displaced Palestinian children amid the ruins of a Gaza City neighbourhood. Although the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas is still holding, most of Gaza's residents remain homeless.

(PHOTO: EPA)

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has confirmed that the second phase of the US-brokered plan to end the war in Gaza is about to begin.

Speaking on Dec 8 after meeting German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who visited Israel, Mr Netanyahu said he would hold “decisive” discussions with US President Donald Trump “at the end of the month” on how to achieve the plan’s second stage.

Officials in Israel have hinted that Mr Netanyahu’s meeting with Mr Trump is now scheduled for Dec 29, although there is no confirmation of this from Washington.

Still, a furious diplomatic tussle is unfolding over every detail of what the next stage in the Gaza peace process should include.

The deal brokered by President Trump on Oct 9 envisages three phases. The first involved an immediate ceasefire and the return of the 20 living Israelis held as hostages by Hamas, the militant Palestinian organisation, as well as the remains of 28 dead Israelis, in exchange for the release of 2,000 Palestinian detainees held in Israel’s jails.

Israel has complained that Hamas dragged its feet over the release of hostages. And the Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza has claimed that over 370 civilians were killed in Israeli violations of the ceasefire.

On the whole, however, the ceasefire holds and, although most of Gaza’s residents remain homeless, they are now receiving adequate food and humanitarian supplies. Under US pressure, Israel also recently agreed to open the Rafah border crossing, allowing Palestinians with special permits to leave Gaza for Egypt.