US, mediators preparing to move Gaza ceasefire into phase two despite Israeli obstructions

The US is seeking to move Gaza's ceasefire into its second phase, despite resistance from Israel, with plans to announce the controversial 'Board of Peace' Gaza governing body - to be headed personally by Donald Trump - next week.

During Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to the US last month, the Trump administration said that it would not make the beginning of the ceasefire's second phase conditional on the return of the final deceased Israeli captive held in Gaza, or on Hamas' disarmament, the Times of Israel reported.

Israel has been delaying implementing several key aspects of the ceasefire, including the full opening of the Rafah border crossing, using Hamas's weapons and the return of the body of the final captive as a pretext.

TOI added that the US is currently in talks with mediators Qatar, Egypt and Turkey over implementing a disarmament plan, which could see Hamas give up its heavy weaponry, with a buy-back scheme being implemented for lighter weapons, that could be put into place in the coming weeks.

A second phase would also see the announcement of the members of Gaza's 'Board of Peace', with Axios reporting that this will happen next week.

The board is set to be made up of representatives from the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt and Turkey.

The first meeting of the board could be held at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, although the timeline could be interrupted by events in Ukraine or Venezuela, where the US recently abducted President Nicholas Maduro.

The representative of the board to be based on the ground in Gaza will reportedly be former UN Middle East envoy Nikolay Mladenov, whom Axios said is visiting Israel next week for meetings with Netanyahu.

Israel has also approved eight Palestinians to be part of a technocratic body governing Gaza out of an Egyptian-compiled list of 12, with a former member of the Palestinian Authority, which has limited control of parts of the occupied West Bank, also set to be part of the committee.

Israel has, however, refused the inclusion of a current minister in the PA, TOI reports.

Hazem Qassem, the spokesperson for Hamas, said in comments made to Anadolu that the group was prepared to move into the second phase of the ceasefire, and that it was also ready to negotiate on the specific components of the phase.

Qassem also called on the international community to stop Israel from violating the ceasefire, and to ensure the reopening of the Rafah border crossing.

Israel's ongoing and deadly ceasefire violations in Gaza saw the shooting and killing of an 11-year-old child in the Jabaliya refugee camp on Wednesday, as well another child injured with live rounds in the Zeitoun neighbouhood of Gaza City, Palestinian news agency Wafa reported.

The attacks come after Israel killed two Palestinians in an Israeli strike on Gaza City's Tuffah neighbourhood on Wednesday. Israel has killed over 400 Palestinians in Gaza since the ceasefire began last October.