BY EMMANUEL OGBONNA
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that Israel and Hamas are “very shortly” expected to enter the second phase of the ongoing ceasefire agreement, a step he indicated could begin once Hamas returns the remains of the final hostage still held in Gaza. His comments came during a joint press appearance in Jerusalem with visiting German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, where both leaders addressed the fragile truce and the growing international effort to shape Gaza’s future governance.
The remains in question belong to Ran Gvili, a 24-year-old Israeli police officer killed in the Hamas-led assault of October 7, 2023. His body was taken into Gaza during the attack, which triggered the war that has since devastated the enclave. Israeli officials say the return of Gvili’s remains is essential to concluding the first phase of the U.S.-brokered ceasefire plan. Israel is expected to return 15 bodies of Palestinians as part of the exchange.
Hamas, however, has said locating all remains has become increasingly difficult due to widespread destruction after two years of Israeli military operations. The group maintains that many bodies are still trapped beneath collapsed buildings. Israel accuses Hamas of deliberately delaying the process and has warned that military action or limits on humanitarian aid could resume if all remains are not delivered.
Families of hostages urged officials to remain firm, declaring that “we cannot advance to the next phase before Ran Gvili returns home,” a statement that underscored growing public pressure on the government.
Netanyahu acknowledged the difficulty of moving forward but said the progress made so far showed that even complicated steps were achievable. He stressed that the next stage—focused on demilitarizing Gaza and disarming Hamas—would be equally demanding but necessary. He added that a third phase, which involves “deradicalizing Gaza,” would follow and drew parallels to postwar efforts in Germany, Japan and Gulf nations. “It can be done in Gaza, too, but of course Hamas has to be dismantled,” he said.
The second phase of the ceasefire also envisions the deployment of an international force to secure Gaza and the establishment of a temporary Palestinian government to handle daily administration under the supervision of a multinational board led by U.S. President Donald Trump.
Germany’s chancellor voiced strong support for Israel’s security commitments, emphasizing Germany’s historic responsibility. “Germany will always stand up for Israel’s existence and security,” Merz said, calling it a permanent element of the relationship between the two nations.
Merz said Berlin remains committed to a two-state solution but believes recognition of a Palestinian state must come only at the end of a political process, not at the outset. He confirmed that Germany is assisting in preparations for the second phase by sending officers and diplomats to a U.S.-led coordination center in southern Israel, as well as humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Netanyahu noted that he has not scheduled a visit to Germany, citing concerns over an outstanding arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court last year in connection with the Gaza war. Merz said no visit is planned for now, though he may extend an invitation in the future, and noted that he is aware of no EU sanctions being considered against Israel. Germany’s temporary ban on military exports to Israel was lifted shortly after the ceasefire began on October 10.
Even as diplomatic steps continue, violence has persisted on the ground. Israel’s military said it killed a militant who approached troops along the Yellow Line, a key division inside Gaza. Gaza’s Health Ministry reported that Israeli forces have killed more than 370 Palestinians since the ceasefire began, including six whose bodies were brought to hospitals in the last 24 hours.
The war’s toll remains staggering. The October 2023 Hamas attack killed about 1,200 people and resulted in more than 250 hostages being taken into Gaza. Nearly all hostages or their remains have since been returned under ceasefire agreements or negotiated deals. Gaza’s Health Ministry says at least 70,360 Palestinians have been killed during Israel’s offensive. The ministry, which is part of Gaza’s Hamas-run administration, does not differentiate between civilians and fighters but says almost half of the dead are women and children. Its figures are widely regarded by the U.N. and international organizations as generally reliable.
As leaders prepare for the next phase of the ceasefire, both sides face mounting pressure—Israel from families demanding closure, Hamas from international mediators urging compliance, and Gaza’s civilians from yet another winter of instability. The coming weeks may determine whether the fragile calm deepens into a political resolution or unravels back into conflict.
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