Attention is once again turning to the stalled second phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement, as momentum builds toward its long-delayed implementation and questions mount over how its most contentious provisions will be handled, notably those concerning the disarmament of Hamas and the reconstruction of the war-ravaged enclave.
The anticipated provisions, unfolding amid ongoing Israeli obstacles and violations since the agreement took effect months ago, require further understanding to push the ceasefire forward, experts told Asharq Al-Awsat.
They estimated that Washington would exert significant pressure to complete the agreement, driven by its need to do so to support its presidency of the Peace Council, whose role remains disputed between the United States and Western countries.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, in a phone call with his Emirati counterpart Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, voiced support for US President Donald Trump’s initiative to launch the Peace Council and welcomed the move, according to a statement by Egypt’s Foreign Ministry on Friday.
Abdelatty stressed the importance of moving ahead with the requirements of the second phase of the US president’s plan, backing the national committee to administer Gaza, and swiftly deploying an international stabilization force to monitor the ceasefire, paving the way for early recovery and reconstruction.
Meanwhile, Israel’s i24NEWS website reported on Thursday that “understandings are taking shape between the United States and Hamas regarding disarmament in the Gaza Strip.” It said an upcoming meeting between US envoy Steve Witkoff and senior Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya would seek to bridge gaps between the two sides and examine whether a disarmament agreement could be advanced while preserving Israel’s security and reducing security threats.
Witkoff is expected to meet al-Hayya soon to discuss a draft agreement that includes, among other issues, arrangements for dismantling weapons in the enclave, including distinguishing between heavy and light arms, to sign what would be called an “understanding agreement” on firearms, rather than a weapons surrender deal.
Disarmament is not the only issue under discussion. Talk has also intensified over reconstruction, which Egypt and Arab states insist should cover the entire Gaza Strip, in line with the Egyptian plan approved by Arab leaders in March 2025.
By contrast, US President Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, said on Thursday in Davos that Washington envisions a “new Gaza,” transforming the war-ravaged territory into a luxury resort within three years.
Said Okasha, a political analyst specializing in Israeli affairs at the Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies, said the remaining provisions of the Gaza agreement clearly require further understandings, especially on Hamas disarmament and reconstruction, given the current uncertainty over Israel’s positions.
He said Israel accepts low-intensity attacks but rejects any withdrawal or reconstruction without the complete disarmament of Hamas. Any gradual disarmament understandings may not be accepted and could obstruct the phase, pushing the parties back to new negotiations with mediators. Still, he said, there is no alternative to continuing talks at this critical time.
Palestinian political analyst Nizar Nazzal said the US understanding of Hamas’ weapons differs from Israel’s zero-tolerance approach, and that understandings may emerge from the Witkoff-al-Hayya meeting to freeze or manage the arms issue.
He expected Hamas to find common ground with Washington on the matter, bolstering implementation of the agreement.
In his speech at the Davos forum on Thursday, Kushner stressed that Hamas disarmament is one of the ceasefire provisions in force since Oct. 10, saying it would encourage companies and donors to commit to the enclave.
He outlined what he called a “new Gaza” within three years and called for at least $25 billion in investments to rebuild infrastructure and public services.
Okasha said Kushner’s plan may be the most likely to move forward, provided understandings are reached with mediators on how to implement it.
Nazzal, however, cast doubt on Kushner’s remarks, saying he presented videos depicting Gaza as a paradise, but that Washington’s track record in resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict does not inspire confidence, raising expectations that fighting could resume.
Amid these concerns, Israel’s public broadcaster reported on Thursday that Israel had settled the issue of operating the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, saying it would establish an additional crossing, “Rafah 2,” adjacent to the existing one and operated by Israel itself.
The broadcaster said the main crossing would be run by the European Union Border Assistance Mission, with participation from officers of the Palestinian Authority’s General Intelligence Service. In contrast, the new crossing would be subject to Shin Bet checks and Israeli remote screening procedures, including facial imaging and identity card verification.
Okasha said the new crossing would likely be built inside Palestinian territory rather than on the Egyptian border, possibly near the Karni crossing, noting that Cairo would reject any arrangement on its border with Israel.
He added that Israel does not want to take any additional steps under the agreement, but that US pressure remains decisive in implementing its provisions.
Nazzal said Israel does not want more crossings but seeks to assert its sovereignty through control over any crossing, using it to apply pressure in future solutions that advance its gains.
He stressed that the United States would not allow Israel or others to derail the “Trump plan,” predicting Israeli withdrawals, increased aid, the reopening of Rafah, and further positive developments.
