US Envoy Insists on Hamas's Demise as Second Phase of Gaza Peace Plan Nears
A top US diplomat has emphasized that the demise of Hamas is non-negotiable if there is to be lasting peace in the Gaza Strip. In a recent meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog, UN Ambassador Mike Waltz made it clear that without the removal of Hamas from the equation, progress on the second phase of President Trump's peace plan seems unlikely.
The ambassador acknowledged that Hamas must go, repeating this sentiment during their conversation. He did not elaborate on what he meant by this statement but implied that there would be no more room for the militant group in Gaza.
Waltz also revealed that key components of the next phase include the establishment of a Palestinian technocratic authority to oversee basic services like water, gas, and sewage maintenance, as well as funding mechanisms to support Gaza's reconstruction. Furthermore, an International Stabilization Force would be deployed to take over policing duties from Hamas.
However, progress on these fronts is hindered by Hamas' refusal to participate in the second phase unless there is a clear commitment to permanent peace and a pathway for Palestinian statehood – conditions Israel has repeatedly rejected.
The current impasse highlights the challenges in implementing lasting solutions to the protracted Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
A top US diplomat has emphasized that the demise of Hamas is non-negotiable if there is to be lasting peace in the Gaza Strip. In a recent meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog, UN Ambassador Mike Waltz made it clear that without the removal of Hamas from the equation, progress on the second phase of President Trump's peace plan seems unlikely.
The ambassador acknowledged that Hamas must go, repeating this sentiment during their conversation. He did not elaborate on what he meant by this statement but implied that there would be no more room for the militant group in Gaza.
Waltz also revealed that key components of the next phase include the establishment of a Palestinian technocratic authority to oversee basic services like water, gas, and sewage maintenance, as well as funding mechanisms to support Gaza's reconstruction. Furthermore, an International Stabilization Force would be deployed to take over policing duties from Hamas.
However, progress on these fronts is hindered by Hamas' refusal to participate in the second phase unless there is a clear commitment to permanent peace and a pathway for Palestinian statehood – conditions Israel has repeatedly rejected.
The current impasse highlights the challenges in implementing lasting solutions to the protracted Israeli-Palestinian conflict.