Netanyahu ignores ceasefire negotiations for Trump meetings

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An appointment for the beginning of negotiations to extend the Gaza car fire went on Monday, while the Israeli Prime Minister is in Washington. The silence from his office about the possible occupation of a negotiation team with Hamas brings considerable uncertainties about the next steps of the fragile ceasefire.

The current state of ceasefire

The ceasefire, which has been in force for a little more than two weeks, is running on March 1st. According to the conditions of the agreement, the talks about the next phase should begin on Monday at the latest. However, the Israeli government has so far not presented a public negotiation team for the talks, let alone sent it to Qatar or Egypt, where Hamas sent a delegation this week. Hamas did not comment on the proposed deadline on Monday.

The role of Qatar in the negotiations

The Prime Minister of Qatar, who acts as an intermediary in the talks, said on Sunday that there were “no clear details” about when or how the negotiations would begin. "We hope to see progress in the coming days," said Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman al-Thani during a press conference in Doha.

Israel's strategy under Netanyahu

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made it clear that he sees the way forward not in Doha or Cairo, but in Washington. This week he will be the first foreign state leader to have a formal meeting with US President Donald Trump. Netanyahus office announced on the evening before his departure that he agreed with Trump's Middle East Sanded that "the negotiations on the second phase of the hostage deal will begin with their meeting in Washington", in which "the positions of Israel" will also be discussed.

progress since the ceasefire came into force

Since the ceasefire came into force on January 19, Hamas and its allies have been hosted in Gaza. In return, the Israeli government has released 583 Palestinian prisoners, many of whom were convicted of serious crimes, sometimes even lifelong, as well as a significant number of children without public charge or process.

The challenges of the next negotiation phase

The ceasefire has led to a withdrawal of the Israeli forces from the residential areas of Gaza, an increase in aid deliveries to the enclave and for the first time since May last year to open the important border crossing Rafah to evacuate injured and sick Palestinians. Despite some violations, the ceasefire has largely existed and represents the second breathing space in 15 months of war, after a short ceasefire in November 2023.

The first phase of the ceasefire was only created for 42 days. The conversations for the second phase must begin on Monday, the 16th day of the ceasefire, which means that Netanyahu violates the conditions of the agreement by talking to Trump first. In this second phase, as CNN understands, the Israeli military would completely deduct from Gaza, and all living hostages, both soldiers and civilians, would be released for further Palestinian prisoners.

netanyahus concerns and international reactions

chief under Netanyahus concerns this week will be what Trump wants. The American president was not yet in office during the first round of the arms resting talks, but his team played a major role in the negotiations that urged Israel in the direction of an agreement.

"Our decisions and the courage of our soldiers have re-drawn the card," said Netanyahu on Sunday on the roller field of the Ben Gurion Airport. "But I believe that, by working closely with President Trump, we can continue to and better."

criticism of netanyahus proceed

Gershon Baskin, an experienced Israeli negotiator and peace activist, said in a statement that Netanyahus "refusal to start negotiations on the day set in the agreement is a clear violation of the agreement." He added: "Israel demands that Hamas comply with all the conditions of the agreement, but at the same time commits significant violations. Another time Netanyahu lets the hostages down and puts them in danger."

Trump has towered with the current ceasefire and explained that he wanted to end the foreign wars. Nevertheless, he repeatedly expressed the wish that the two million people in Gaza leave the area to "simply clean the whole thing". According to the United Nations, the forced expulsion of civilians can represent "a war crime and/or crime against humanity".

reactions from the cabinet

Trump's proposal was well received by the most extreme ministers in Netanyahu's government coalition. The finance minister Bezhalel Smotrich, who decided against the withdrawal of Israeli armed forces and settlers from Gaza in 2005, demands that the enclave be resisted by Jews. "The promotion of migration (from Palestinians from Gaza) is the only solution that will bring peace and security for the residents of Israel and alleviate the suffering of the Arab residents of Gaza," he said after Trump expressed his wish that Palestinians left the area.

already a minister, the right-wing extremist Itamar Ben-Gvir, has withdrawn his party from the Israeli government because of the ceasefire and referred to this as a surrender. Smotrich has announced that he will do the same if Israel does not start the war in Gaza again when the current, first phase of the ceasefire expires.

Kareem Khadder, Mike Schwartz and Eyad Kourd contributed to this report.