Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will reportedly discuss the second phase of the Gaza Strip ceasefire during his visit to the United States.
According to international media outlets, including Al Jazeera and Voice of America (VOA), the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office announced on Sunday that Netanyahu will initiate negotiations on the second ceasefire stage during his U.S. visit.
Netanyahu’s visit comes just two weeks after the first phase of the ceasefire, which included a prisoner exchange involving 33 hostages, including Israelis held by Hamas, and approximately 2,000 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli custody. The upcoming second stage is expected to focus on additional exchanges and discussions on how to halt the war permanently.
During his visit, Netanyahu plans to engage with U.S. President Donald Trump on strategies to achieve victory over Hamas, secure the release of all remaining hostages, and address Iran’s involvement in terrorism.
Notably, this marks Netanyahu’s first U.S. visit since the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant against him last November for alleged war crimes in Gaza. He will be the first foreign head of state to visit the U.S. after Trump’s inauguration.
The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office disclosed that U.S. Middle East Special Envoy Steve Witkoff will first consult with key mediators Qatar and Egypt before discussing the progress of negotiations with Netanyahu.
Before his departure, Netanyahu met with Special Envoy Witkoff, and both agreed to resume negotiations in Washington.
The first stage of the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip will last 42 days and end next month. The dates for the second phase of negotiations have yet to be set.
Scott Lucas, a professor of international politics at University College Dublin in Ireland, predicted in an interview with Al Jazeera that both Israel and Hamas would face significant internal pressures, complicating negotiations.
Official negotiation dates have not been determined between mediators, Israel, and Hamas representatives.
Lucas analyzed that far-right factions in Israel oppose a ceasefire and advocate for establishing military governance in Gaza after expelling the Palestinians, signaling a potential return to war.
He also expressed concern over Trump’s role as a peace mediator, noting his staunchly pro-Israel stance and apparent support for forcibly relocating Gaza’s residents to Egypt and Jordan, which could hinder consensus on the second phase of the ceasefire.
