What's happened
US officials aim to announce a second phase of the Gaza peace plan by late December, involving a multinational stabilization force, Palestinian technocratic governance, and Hamas disarmament. Key meetings between Netanyahu and Trump are scheduled for late December, amid ongoing regional tensions and military operations.
What's behind the headline?
The US strategy in Gaza is increasingly complex and fragile. While Washington aims to establish a multinational force and a Palestinian technocratic government, key obstacles remain. Hamas's refusal to disarm, citing fears of massacres and resistance, complicates disarmament efforts. Israel's demand for Hamas's disarmament and its veto on Turkish involvement in the stabilization force highlight regional tensions. The US's focus on regional diplomacy, including Syria and Iran, indicates a broader strategy that may sideline the Gaza peace process. The upcoming Netanyahu-Trump meeting will be pivotal; if delays persist, the risk of renewed conflict rises. The US's emphasis on disarmament and stability underscores its long-term goal of regional order, but the current stalemate suggests a protracted and uncertain path forward. The regional dynamics, especially Israel's military operations in Syria and the shifting US alliances, will heavily influence the success of the peace plan. The next few weeks will determine whether the second phase can be launched or if the situation will revert to conflict escalation.
What the papers say
The Times of Israel reports that US officials are still in early discussions about the second phase of the Gaza peace plan, with delays expected until late December. They highlight ongoing debates over disarmament and the role of an international stabilization force, with regional reluctance and Israeli vetoes complicating progress. Al Jazeera emphasizes the regional tensions, noting Israel's military operations in Syria and the challenges of establishing a credible disarmament process amid Hamas's resistance. The New Arab discusses the broader regional context, including US efforts to foster stability in Syria and the impact of Israeli strikes, which continue to destabilize the region. Both sources underscore the complexity of implementing the US peace plan, with regional actors wary of disarmament and the potential for renewed conflict, reflecting a broader geopolitical struggle over influence and security in the Middle East.
How we got here
The US-led peace plan for Gaza, initiated after the October 2023 conflict, envisions disarming Hamas, establishing a technocratic Palestinian authority, and deploying an international stabilization force. Progress has been slow due to regional and political disagreements, especially over disarmament and Israeli concerns about Hamas's future role.
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Donald John Trump is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021.
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Benjamin Netanyahu is an Israeli politician serving as Prime Minister of Israel since 2009, and previously from 1996 to 1999. Netanyahu is also the Chairman of the Likud – National Liberal Movement.
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Syria, officially the Syrian Arab Republic, is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon to the southwest, the Mediterranean Sea to the west, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest.
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Israel, formally known as the State of Israel, is a country in Western Asia, located on the southeastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea and the northern shore of the Red Sea.
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Hamas is a Palestinian Sunni-Islamic fundamentalist militant organization. It has a social service wing, Dawah, and a military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades.
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The Israel Defense Forces, commonly known in Israel by the Hebrew acronym Tzahal, are the military forces of the State of Israel. They consist of the ground forces, air force, and navy. It is the sole military wing of the Israeli security forces, and has
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The Gaza Strip, or simply Gaza, is a self-governing Palestinian territory on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, that borders Egypt on the southwest for 11 kilometers and Israel on the east and north along a 51 km border.
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Isaac 'Bougie' Herzog is an Israeli politician. He served as a member of the Knesset between 2003 and 2018 and held several ministerial posts, including Minister of Welfare and Social Services.