In Jerusalem, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu restated his rejection of an independent Palestinian state during a joint press appearance with visiting German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on 7 December. Netanyahu said Israel must retain security authority “from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea,” arguing that any future Palestinian state could threaten Israel’s existence. He cited Hamas’s prior control of Gaza as evidence, contending the enclave was used “to try to destroy the only Jewish state.”
The prime minister added that broader normalization with Arab countries remains achievable but insisted Israel will not accept a neighboring entity he believes would “commit to the destruction” of the country. He warned of rising antisemitism worldwide and defended ongoing military operations as necessary to counter threats from Iran and allied groups. When asked whether he would consider stepping down in exchange for a legal pardon, Netanyahu answered in Hebrew, “No, no.”
Addressing the stalled cease-fire roadmap, Netanyahu said the second phase is “close,” contingent on Hamas disarmament. He plans to travel to Washington at the end of the month for meetings with President Donald Trump, where the two leaders are expected to discuss how to implement the next steps.
Washington is also preparing its own announcement. On 5 December, a U.S. official said the Biden administration intends to declare the transition to phase two of its 20-point Gaza peace plan “in the coming weeks.” The proposal includes establishing a Board of Peace, a transitional governance body composed of Palestinian technocrats, and deploying an International Stabilization Force (ISF) to help secure the strip.
According to the official, President Trump will soon reveal the countries and individuals contributing to the stabilization mission. In advance of the rollout, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz is scheduled to visit Jordan and Israel to coordinate with regional partners.
Imagem: Internet
The framework gained international backing in November, when the Security Council approved U.N. Security Council resolution 2720. The measure mandates that the ISF work alongside Israeli and Egyptian forces and a newly vetted Palestinian police service to oversee border security and dismantle non-state armed groups, including Hamas. The Board of Peace would supervise the technocratic committee, guide reconstruction, and monitor humanitarian assistance.
Financing for Gaza’s rehabilitation over the next two years would flow through a World Bank–administered trust fund, according to the resolution. Waltz told the council the ISF will be tasked with “removing weapons, dismantling terrorist infrastructure and ensuring the safety of Palestinian civilians.”
Humanitarian conditions inside Gaza remain dire. Large swaths of residential areas in the northern part of the strip lie in ruins, and makeshift tent cities house tens of thousands of displaced residents. Aid agencies have warned that fuel, food, and medical supplies entering through controlled crossings are still insufficient to meet basic needs, even as relative calm allows for limited relief operations.
Meanwhile, Israeli jets continued sorties over Lebanon, striking what the IDF identified as Hezbollah weapons depots and observation posts. The cross-border fire has raised concerns that the Gaza conflict could ignite a broader confrontation on Israel’s northern front.
Negotiations over the second phase of the truce, the deployment of the stabilization force, and the long-term governance of Gaza are expected to dominate diplomatic activity through the end of December. Until a comprehensive agreement is reached, Israeli troops are set to remain along the yellow line, which military leaders now regard as the forward edge of their defensive posture.
Crédito da imagem: Jehad Alshrafi/AP
