"Serious US Pressure on Israel" to Begin Phase Two of the Ceasefire; Winter Storms Deepen the Suffering of Gaza's People

Mahmoud Basal, spokesperson for Gaza's Civil Defense, confirmed that recent winter storms caused the deaths of 17 citizens, including four children, due to extreme cold and building collapses. He stated that 90% of shelters were flooded by torrents, and over 90 residential buildings suffered partial collapses, threatening thousands of lives.

"More Serious US Pressure" Diaa Rashwan, Chairman of Egypt's State Information Service, told BBC Arabic that the first phase took longer than necessary due to "Israeli stalling." He emphasized that Egypt, as a guarantor, believes Phase Two—the "core" of the agreement—must begin immediately. This phase includes the deployment of an international stability force, Israeli withdrawal, and addressing Hamas's weapons and the civil administration of Gaza.

Rashwan noted that US pressure, particularly from President Trump, has become "more serious" to enforce the agreement. Meanwhile, US Central Command (CENTCOM) held a conference in Doha on Tuesday to discuss the formation and mission of the international force.

The Agreement Context: The ceasefire, signed on October 9, followed a plan proposed by Trump and endorsed by the UN. Key points include:

• Phase One: Return of hostages (20 alive, 27 bodies returned) in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.

• Phase Two: Israeli withdrawal, international force deployment, and Hamas disarming.

• The Rafah crossing remains closed; Israel insists it will only open after the body of the final hostage is returned.

Amidst these political moves, Gaza remains in a humanitarian catastrophe with acute malnutrition among children and thousands of families losing their temporary shelters to heavy rains and sewage overflows.