Ceasefire talks take a backseat as Netanyahu speaks with Trump. Image: Military.com
(The Post News)- A crucial deadline for Gaza ceasefire talks has arrived, but uncertainty hangs in the air as Israeli leaders remain silent. The ceasefire has been in place for over two weeks and is about to expire on the 1st of March. Based on the terms of the deal, the talks on the coming phase are expected to take place on Monday.
However, the Israeli government has yet to unveil a negotiating team for the talks publicly, let alone send them to Qatar or Egypt. This is where Hamas is sending a delegation this week. So far, Hamas hasn’t publicly commented on Monday’s deadline.
On Sunday, Qatar’s prime minister, an intermediary in the talks, claimed there are no clear details on how or when the talks would begin. Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani said that they hope to see some movement in the upcoming days. Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister has clarified that he sees the path forward not in Doha or Cairo, but in Washington. This is where he becomes the first foreign leader to hold a formal meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump this week.
Netanyahu told reporters that he would discuss “victory over Hamas” before his departure. He said this without defining what it could mean in terms of practicality while contending with Iran and freeing all hostages when he meets with Trump on Tuesday. Before boarding his flight, he thinks that it’s a testimony to the strength of the Israeli-American alliance.
On Sunday, Netanyahu was welcomed to the U.S. capital by the Israeli ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon. Danon emphasized the coming Trump-Netanyahu meeting may strengthen the deep alliance between Israel and the U.S. and enhance their cooperation.
In a crucial next step, Netanyahu is sitting down with US envoy Steve Witkoff. The aim of this is to hash out the details of the Gaza truce’s second phase. The initial 42-day phase of the deal is due to end in the next month. The following step is to cover the release of the remaining captives. Furthermore, discussions on how to put a permanent end to Israel’s war on Gaza is on the agenda.
Trump has declared himself the most pro-Israel president in U.S. history and has appointed senior diplomats who support far-right Israeli factions openly. This includes their push to annex the occupied West Bank.
About the Author
