The press conference unfolded as a tentative ceasefire between Israel and Hamas largely held for a second week. Israeli forces, which previously advanced deep into the Gaza Strip, have withdrawn to the so-called “yellow line,” a buffer marking their current positions. While large-scale ground operations have paused, sporadic firefights and intermittent Israeli airstrikes continue to claim lives.
Under the truce terms, Israel has exchanged Palestinian prisoners and the remains of deceased Palestinian detainees for the return of hostage remains held by militants. Israeli officials say only one hostage — an Israeli citizen — is still believed to be in Gaza. Earlier exchanges recovered the body of Thai agricultural worker Sudthisak Rinthalak, 42, who was killed during the 7 October 2023 Hamas-led assault. Rinthalak was the last of 31 Thai nationals taken captive during the attack; 39 Thai citizens died that day, according to Israeli authorities. Coordination with the Thai embassy is under way to repatriate his remains for burial.
In southern Lebanon, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported airstrikes on multiple weapons storage facilities it said belonged to Hezbollah. According to an IDF statement, two prior warnings were issued before the strikes. No casualty figures were released.
The regional picture may soon shift again. A U.S. official said Washington and partner nations are preparing to announce a transition to the second phase of a 20-point Gaza peace plan “in the coming weeks.” The initiative, endorsed by a November resolution of the United Nations Security Council, envisions a Board of Peace to administer Gaza and an International Stabilization Force (ISF) to secure the territory alongside Israeli, Egyptian and newly vetted Palestinian security personnel. The ISF’s mandate would include disarming non-state groups such as Hamas, dismantling militant infrastructure and safeguarding civilians.
Imagem: Internet
President Donald Trump is expected to unveil the composition of the Board of Peace and the countries contributing troops to the ISF. Ahead of that announcement, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz will travel to Jordan and Israel to discuss implementation. Reconstruction funds, according to the Security Council resolution, would be managed by a World Bank-backed trust.
Netanyahu is scheduled to visit the White House at the end of December to confer with Trump on the peace plan’s next stage. Speaking Sunday, he said the transition to phase two was “close” but stressed that Hamas must first surrender its weapons. “We will hold important talks later this month to ensure that condition is met,” he noted.
The ceasefire, brokered in October after two years of war, has brought relative calm compared with previous months, yet both Israeli and Palestinian officials acknowledge its fragility. Gaza health authorities say casualties from sporadic strikes persist, while the IDF reports continued small-scale rocket fire and roadside attacks.
Diplomats view the coming weeks as critical. The success of the Board of Peace and the ISF could determine whether the lull evolves into a durable cessation of hostilities or collapses into renewed conflict. For now, however, Netanyahu’s unequivocal rejection of Palestinian statehood underscores the political obstacles that remain even if security arrangements take hold.
Crédito da imagem: Abdel Kareem Hana/AP
