Israeli Cabinet To Meet On Gaza Truce Phase 2 Amid US Pressure, Bibi ‘Preventing’ Talks, Says Report

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu is working to prevent the implementation of the hostage deal’s second phase, a senior Israeli security official told Ynet. The anonymous senior Israeli security official said it amounts to a violation of the hostage deal.The deal stipulated that the parties begin holding negotiations regarding phase two of the deal no later than the 16th day of the first phase, which was on Feb. 3.Meanwhile, Israel's security cabinet is set to discuss the next phase of the ceasefire in Gaza on Jan. 17, a day after the US Secretary of State’s visit to the country. Earlier on Feb. 16, the top US diplomat Marco Rubio and Netanyahu presented a united front on their approach to Hamas and Iran. Israel and the US are determined to thwart Iran's nuclear ambitions and its influence in the Middle East, the Israeli Prime Minister said. Rubio was in Israel on his first Middle East trip as President Donald Trump’s secretary of state. n18oc_world n18oc_crux0:00 INTRODUCTION6:15 “TOLD NETANYAHU TO DO WHATEVER YOU WANT”8:46 ARAB SUMMIT ON GAZA LIKELY TO BE POSTPONED9:30 HAMAS READY TO HAND GAZA TO PA?