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Source: https://www.ynetnews.com/article/sj99pwrq11g
Netanyahu to Seek Understandings with Trump on Gaza War, Syria
(Ynet News) Itamar Eichner - Prime Minister Netanyahu will meet President Trump in Florida on Monday for discussions on a range of diplomatic and security issues. From Israel's perspective, the demilitarization of Gaza and the disarmament of Hamas are foundational issues for any progress on reconstruction and governance in Gaza. Netanyahu wants to understand how the international stabilization force (ISF) the U.S. is assembling would carry this out. During a recent meeting of Israel's security cabinet, it was reported that the U.S. has secured commitments from three countries to send troops to Gaza. From Israel's perspective, countries such as Turkey and Pakistan cannot be part of the stabilization force. Israel is conditioning the transition to the second phase on the return of the body of killed hostage First Sgt. Ran Gviliy. There is hope that a focused effort will yield results in the coming days. Israel wants to ensure that the plan guarantees genuine disarmament of Hamas, not symbolic gestures or maneuvers, and the same applies to the demilitarization of Gaza. Israel seeks to ensure a complete break from Hamas and minimal ties to the Palestinian Authority. A senior Israeli official said after Thursday's cabinet meeting: "In Israel there is significant doubt whether the international force will succeed in disarming Hamas, but it must be given the opportunity. As for Hamas, intelligence assessments show it is still active, rearming and rebuilding." Regarding Syria, the army of Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa was seen chanting "To Jerusalem" and "We are coming to Gaza" during the anniversary of Assad's fall, and fighters were seen wearing ISIS patches. In such a situation, Israel cannot rely on or view al-Sharaa as a stable partner. Israel wants a demilitarized zone in southern Syria that does not threaten Israel, to protect the Druze population to prevent another massacre, and to prevent Damascus from becoming a depot for advanced weapons systems. On the possibility of reaching a security arrangement with Syria, the official said: "We thought it could happen faster, but they are unstable."