American Official: Progress in Second Phase Talks and We Are Working to Form a Palestinian Police Force

SadaNews - An American official stated this Tuesday evening that despite all the difficulties, discussions regarding the transition to the second phase in Gaza are making progress.

The official mentioned in an interview with the Qatari channel Al Jazeera that the negotiations for the second phase face difficult issues, multiple challenges, and different viewpoints.

He noted that the discussions to transition to the second phase of the Gaza peace plan are taking place behind closed doors to ensure progress is made.

He indicated that the talks are focused on providing forces, a leadership structure, deployment processes, rules of engagement, and logistical support.

He said: The Security Council's decision regarding Gaza is clear concerning the issue of Israeli withdrawal within the framework of the second phase.

He added: Trump’s peace plan and the Security Council decision are clear regarding the disarmament of Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

He anticipated the deployment of advance elements of the international stability force in Gaza by early 2026, with the participation of one or two states initially, stating that it will not be deployed in areas under Hamas control in the Gaza Strip.

He said: We are conducting discussions with several countries regarding their contribution to the international stability force, including Arab countries, noting that the participation of the United States in leading the international stability force is still under discussion.

He pointed out that the United States is engaged in discussions to form a Palestinian police force in the Gaza Strip, saying that we are still in the planning phase for establishing the Palestinian police force.

Regarding the Civil-Military Coordination Center in Kiryat Gat, the American official said: The coordination center is working to remove obstacles to achieve an increase in humanitarian aid to Gaza in both quantity and quality.

He added: We acknowledge Gaza's need for additional specific aid that has not yet been met, and we are working to provide it, noting that more than 30,000 trucks of aid have entered Gaza since the establishment of the coordination center on October 17.