Denison Forum
Dr. Jim Denison
President Trump is meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this afternoon. According to Israeli officials, the future of the Gaza hostage release and ceasefire deal is hanging on the outcome of their talks.
Negotiations on the second phase of the agreement were scheduled to begin yesterday, but Mr. Netanyahu chose not to send his negotiating team before he met with Mr. Trump. This phase is supposed to lead to a permanent ceasefire and a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, but Hamas wants to end the war while staying in power, which Israel obviously opposes.
If Mr. Netanyahu does not resume the war, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich threatens to quit, stripping the prime minister of the coalition by which he retains office. If Israel does not move forward with the ceasefire agreement, one Israeli official said there could be at least another year of war in Gaza to topple Hamas. More Here