Disagreements have emerged between the US, Israel, and Egypt during meetings with Egypt’s intelligence chief, coinciding with the visit of US Vice President J.D. Vance to Israel.
While Washington wants to move forward with the second phase of the Trump plan, and Egypt seeks to bring foreign forces into Gaza within days, Israel currently opposes the move, arguing that Hamas can still return the bodies of hostages without outside help.
Israeli security officials told the Egyptian intelligence chief that Hamas is deliberately stalling and must first return all the hostages’ bodies before any progress is made in the American plan.
Meanwhile, a list of countries interested in contributing troops to a proposed international–Arab peacekeeping force in Gaza is beginning to take shape. Egypt, Azerbaijan, Qatar, Jordan, Indonesia, the UAE, and Morocco are still undecided—despite US pressure—while Israel remains wary of Turkey’s participation.