Israel will begin negotiations on the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement, including the exchange of the remaining Israeli hostages for Palestinian detainees, said Foreign Minister Gideon Saar on Tuesday, adding that Israel demanded the complete demilitarization of the enclave.
Negotiations for the second phase of the agreement should be underway before the first phase ending on March 2, but Qatar said the conversations have not yet officially started.
A “Hezbollah model” in Gaza would not be acceptable to Israel “and therefore we need a total demilitarization of Gaza and no presence of the Palestinian authority,” Saar said at a press conference.
He added that Israel is aware of an alternative plan from the Arab states to Gaza, made to combat US President Donald Trump’s proposal to rebuild the track under US control, that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said he was worthy of exploration.
Israel would not support a plan that transferred Civil Control of Gaza do Hamas to Palestinian Authority, Saar added.
