US President Donald Trump said Hamas appears to be giving up its weapons, one of the main items in the next phase of the ceasefire agreement between the Palestinian movement and Israel. Trump’s comments came during a government meeting, following a briefing by his special envoy, Steve Whitkov, on the course of the negotiations, where he indicated that the second phase of the US plan to end the war in Gaza has already begun. Trump added that “Hamas had a major role in restoring the hostages,” considering that it had given up on its weapons in a serious way. On the other hand, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, stressed the need to move to the second phase of the ceasefire agreement in Gaza, explaining that this stage means Israel’s complete withdrawal and the disarmament of armed groups. In a press conference, Guterres affirmed his strong opposition to the Israeli moves that undermine the two-state solution, including settlement construction, demolition and evacuation, and settler violence in the West Bank, stressing his determination to confront all efforts aimed at undermining This is the solution. He also called for dialogue to avoid widespread regional crises, warning of dire consequences if the escalation continues.
