Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Sunday that Israel and Hamas are “very shortly expected to move into the second phase of the ceasefire,” signaling a potentially significant shift in the months-long conflict. The transition to the next phase, Netanyahu said, is expected to begin once Hamas returns the remains of the final hostage still held in Gaza.
The update came during a joint news conference with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who reaffirmed Germany’s deep commitment to supporting Israel while also contributing to humanitarian and diplomatic efforts tied to the ceasefire agreement. Merz confirmed that Germany is sending officers and diplomats to a U.S.-led civilian and military coordination center in southern Israel. In addition, Berlin is continuing to deliver humanitarian assistance to Gaza, where conditions remain dire.
The chancellor emphasized that Germany views a two-state solution as the only sustainable path to peace. However, he reiterated Berlin’s long-standing position that recognition of a Palestinian state must be the outcome of a negotiated peace process—not the starting point. “Recognition can only come at the end of such a process, not at the beginning,” Merz said.
Netanyahu, countering renewed international pressure for Palestinian statehood, argued that creating such a state prematurely would empower Hamas and risk a more dangerous, expansive conflict. He has consistently maintained that any political solution must first ensure Israel’s long-term security and prevent future attacks.
Central to the current negotiations is the return of the remains of 24-year-old Israeli police officer Ran Gvili, whose body is still in Gaza. Gvili was killed during the Hamas-led October 7, 2023, assault—the attack that triggered the war. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum described him as a hero who rushed into danger despite recovering from a serious shoulder injury. “Nothing could have stopped this hero from heading out,” the group wrote, adding that he saved dozens of Nova music festival survivors and residents of a nearby kibbutz.
Under the terms of the proposed second phase, an international force would be deployed to help secure Gaza, while a temporary Palestinian governing body would take over administrative responsibilities. This interim authority would operate under an international board led by U.S. President Donald Trump, who has positioned Washington as a central broker in the evolving agreement.
A senior Hamas official told The Associated Press on Sunday that the group is prepared to discuss “freezing or storing or laying down” its weapons as part of the upcoming negotiations. While such discussions are preliminary, they mark one of the most sensitive and pivotal issues in the ceasefire roadmap.
As diplomatic efforts accelerate, both Israeli and international officials are cautiously optimistic that the next phase—once launched—could pave the way for broader talks on long-term governance, regional security, and reconstruction in Gaza.
