Washington, Feb 4, (dpa/GNA) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, plans to discuss the second phase of the ceasefire agreed with Palestinian group Hamas in Gaza, when he becomes the first foreign leader to visit the White House since President Donald Trump returned to office.
Ahead of his talks on Tuesday with Trump, Netanyahu met National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, and Middle East Special Envoy Steve Witkoff on Monday.
Netanyahu’s office described the talks as “positive and friendly.” At the meeting, it was decided that Israel would send a mid-level team to Qatar this coming weekend, to discuss “technical details related to the continued implementation of the agreement.”
Furthermore, Netanyahu’s office said after the prime minister’s return from the US, he will assemble his security Cabinet “to discuss Israel’s overall positions regarding the second stage of the deal.”
Hamas announced that it had begun talks in Doha with mediators in the conflict, after Israel had agreed to the start of indirect negotiations on the second phase, with Israeli negotiators set to join at a later stage.
A three-phase ceasefire agreement that went into effect on January 19, aims to achieve a permanent end to the fighting in the Gaza Strip, and the release of all hostages still being held by the Iranian-backed Hamas militia and their extremist allies.
The truce in Gaza has held for more than two weeks. Four swaps have freed 18 hostages and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. In total, 33 hostages are planned for release during the first phase.
The second phase foresees establishing the terms of a permanent end to the fighting in Gaza, the release of the remaining living hostages held by Hamas, and the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces.
There are 79 hostages still being held in the Gaza Strip, 35 of whom are presumed dead by Israel.
According to media reports, Trump and Netanyahu are also seeking to make progress towards an agreement, to normalize relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia.
“This is an important meeting that strengthens the deep alliance between Israel and the United States, and will enhance our cooperation,” Israel’s UN ambassador Danny Danon wrote on X.
Relations between the two countries have been strained of late, due to the actions of the Israeli army in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon, as well as criticism from Trump’s predecessor Joe Biden. Trump, however, is far less critical of the Israeli military’s actions than Biden.
GNA