Top US, Arab officials push for second phase of Gaza ceasefire

Top officials from the US, Israel, and Egypt have reportedly moved ahead with the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire deal on Wednesday, two weeks earlier than scheduled as violence against Palestinians in the besieged enclave continues.

It comes as Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani expressed his readiness to mediate discussions for the second stage of the agreement as soon as possible, following the crucial role Doha played in striking the first stage of the truce.

US President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, has reiterated his commitment to advancing the second phase, despite concerns that Israel may resume military operations once the first stage concludes. 

Al-Thani said he intends to speak to Mossad head David Barnea this week to begin the negotiations for the critical next phase.

Witkoff is heading to Davos for the World Economic Forum, Israeli media  reported, where he will likely discuss the prospect of extending the truce.

This follows an announcement from the UN envoy about a visit to Gaza as part of an “inspection team” to monitor the ceasefire agreement established last week. 

During a Fox News interview on Wednesday, Witkoff confirmed he will visit two Israeli-held zones in Gaza as part of his upcoming trip to Israel.

An unnamed senior Israeli official told Walla that Israel has no issue starting the talks soon, but cautioned that the process could take time noting that negotiations for the first phase lasted several months.

Another official told the outlet that Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar and Barnea had discussions about the deal in Cairo with Egyptian intelligence officials this week.

However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has yet to hold a meeting on the second phase of the agreement, although he emphasised Israel’s commitment to seeing the ceasefire through. 

Reports from Israel’s Channel 12 revealed that while in Egypt, Bar and Barnea specifically addressed the details of the second phase, including the release of Palestinian detainees in exchange for Israeli captives.

The first phase of the ceasefire began on Sunday and is set to last six weeks, which includes Israeli withdrawals from Gaza and the exchange of captives.

Negotiations for the second phase were initially scheduled for 4 February with the goal of eventally ending the ongoing conflict in three stages.

Qatar, Egypt, and the US brokered the multi-phase agreement between Israel and Hamas, and the two countries have established a communications hub in Cairo to prevent further clashes.

Despite the progress towards the second phase, far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich reportedly held a meeting to strategise a public campaign against the ceasefire agreement, urging for the war to resume after the first phase ends.

Channel 12 reported that the meeting included bereaved Israeli families, relatives of captives, and strategists.

A participant at the meeting told the Israeli channel: “We were invited to an urgent, secret, and unofficial meeting. Its purpose was to formulate a strategy to pressure the public to resume combat immediately after the first phase concludes.”

In response, Smotrich’s office issued a statement confirming that he regularly meets with bereaved families and families of captives, but the content of these meetings remains confidential. 

This comes after Smotrich stated that he would remain in government only if the war resumed after the first phase, continuing until Hamas is completely defeated.

Former National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir’s Jewish Power party resigned from the government on Sunday over the Gaza ceasefire agreement, freeing up at least three ministerial positions.

Trump, who helped broker the deal, expressed doubts on Monday about its successful implementation, saying “I’m not confident.”

However, he also acknowledged that Hamas has been “weakened” and described Gaza as a “massive demolition site”. 

On Thursday, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar stated that Israel would not compromise on its objective to dismantle Hamas’s military and governing capabilities and that there were no guarantees regarding the success of the three-phase ceasefire.

The US has continued to support Israel, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio holding talks with Prime Minister Netanyahu on Wednesday to reaffirm Washington’s backing, as well as to discuss Iran and Israeli captives in Gaza. 

As the situation shifts towards seeking permanent peace after 15 months of destruction in Gaza, questions about the region’s postwar reconstruction have emerged.

Israel’s Economy Minister Nir Barkat told news agency Reuters on Wednesday that Israel has not decided whether to contribute to reconstruction efforts.

Barkat further clarified that Israel would not fund the reconstruction but would allow other countries, including the UAE and Saudi Arabia, to assist in rebuilding, as long as it does not threaten Israel’s security.

Meanwhile, rights groups have condemned the growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where the healthcare system is in ruins.

Gaza’s health authorities reported on Thursday that no hospital in the region is fully functional, with Kamal Adwan Hospital, a key health facility in northern Gaza, now completely destroyed.

Authorities are urgently calling for the restoration of the healthcare sector and the rebuilding of destroyed medical facilities. 

Human rights organisations such as Al-Mezan have demanded the immediate release of Dr Hussam Abu Safiya, the director of Kamal Adwan Hospital, and all detained medical staff.

Al-Mezan wrote on X that Israeli authorities have extended the ban on Dr Abu Safiya meeting with his legal representative until 6 February.

Despite the ceasefire, Israeli attacks have continued, with at least two Palestinians killed by Israeli tank fire in the Tal as-Sultan neighbourhood of Rafah, and at least two others killed while 120 bodies were recovered from previous attacks. 

Gaza’s total death toll now stands at 47,283, with over 111,000 injured, according to Gaza’s health ministry.