Netanyahu s Security Consultations and the European Union's Role in Gaza Ceasefire

 

Netanyahu’s Security Consultations and the European Union's Role in Gaza

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to hold security consultations on Friday, January 31, 2025, to discuss the potential halt of the exchange deal and the immediate return to combat. This comes amid continued threats to overthrow the Israeli government. According to Israeli media, the European Union is also preparing to play a crucial role in the implementation of the Gaza agreement. For more on Netanyahu, refer to this link.

Netanyahu’s Security Consultations and the Upcoming U.S. Visit

Netanyahu’s consultations will take place alongside the visit of U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff to Israel and just before Netanyahu’s expected meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump. Israeli Channel 12 reported that Netanyahu is not expecting the failure of subsequent stages of the prisoner exchange deal but is considering all possible scenarios.

A key figure in the talks, Coordinator for Prisoners’ Affairs Gal Hirsch, stated that the meeting between Netanyahu and Trump next week is crucial for the negotiations of the second phase of the deal. Hirsch emphasized Israel's readiness to begin negotiations for the second stage, which is expected to start after 42 days of the ceasefire agreement that went into effect on January 19, 2025.

Threats to Overthrow the Government

However, a potential crisis is brewing in Israel, with Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich warning that the government would collapse if the second phase of the deal results in the cessation of hostilities without achieving Israel’s objectives. Smotrich criticized the agreement, calling it catastrophic for Israeli security. He is confident that Israel will return to combat after the first phase concludes at the beginning of March 2025.

Smotrich’s comments reflect internal disagreements within the government, with some members demanding the complete destruction of Hamas as a condition for any further agreements. He also expressed concerns over the possibility of a Palestinian state, stating that such a development would allow Hamas to take control. You can learn more about Smotrich's stance from this article.

The European Union’s Role in Gaza Ceasefire and Rafah Crossing

The European Union is set to play an important role in monitoring the ceasefire and overseeing border security in Gaza. According to Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth, an EU official confirmed that Israel had inquired about how the EU could deploy its mission to assist with the security at the Rafah border crossing. More on the EU’s involvement can be found in the full report.

The European force will be critical in ensuring the success of the ceasefire in Gaza, especially in the early phase, where the priority is to open the Rafah crossing for humanitarian reasons. It is expected that the EU will deploy up to 100 border officers to monitor the situation around Rafah, with new security arrangements.

As part of this agreement, Palestinian Authority border officers will manage the Rafah crossing, with the Israeli military maintaining a presence around the perimeter. The crossing will likely be used by the injured, children, and patients seeking medical treatment abroad. For more on the Rafah crossing, refer to this article.

Reopening of Rafah Crossing and Humanitarian Aid

The Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt is set to open on Friday, January 31, 2025, ahead of the previously scheduled opening date of Sunday, February 2. This decision follows the ceasefire agreement and will allow for the passage of trucks carrying humanitarian aid. The agreement specifies that the crossing will be open for humanitarian purposes by the seventh day of the ceasefire’s implementation.

For further details, see the full report by Al Jazeera.

The situation in Gaza remains tense, with high-level discussions underway about the next steps in the ongoing negotiations. The involvement of both the Israeli government and the European Union underscores the complexity of the deal and the need for careful handling of sensitive geopolitical issues.

 

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