Hebrew Channel: Whitkoff Informed Mediators That the Second Phase Will Begin Next Month

Translation by SadaNews - Channel 13 reported this evening, Wednesday, that U.S. mediator Steve Whitkoff informed mediators that the second phase of the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip will begin in January.

According to the Hebrew channel, this notification came after days of a meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump in Miami.

Israel fears that Trump will push for the transition to the second phase without disarming Gaza.

The Wall Street Journal published last Saturday details of the multi-phase Whitkoff-Kushner plan to rebuild the Gaza Strip, amid increasing assessments in Israel that the re-entry of foreign forces into the territory is inevitable, and that the United States will not succeed in establishing a multinational force to enforce disarmament in Gaza.

On the same day, Whitkoff stated, after discussions held with representatives from Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey in Miami, that "the first phase has made progress, including expanding the scope of humanitarian aid, the return of hostages, partial troop withdrawals, and reducing hostilities. In our discussions regarding the second phase, we emphasized the need to allow the establishment of a governing body in Gaza under unified authority to protect civilians and maintain public order."