Overview
- Officials from the United States, Egypt, Qatar and Turkey held an online meeting on January 12 to prepare the second stage of the Gaza ceasefire plan, according to Turkey's Foreign Ministry.
- A Hamas team led by negotiator Khalil al-Hayya reached Cairo to discuss completing stage one, moving to stage two and reopening the Rafah crossing in both directions.
- The Times reports Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to join a U.S.-chaired Gaza Board of Peace, with potential members including Germany, Italy, Egypt, the UAE and Qatar, and a first meeting possibly at Davos.
- TASS cites a source in the UK prime minister’s office saying no formal invitation has been issued yet and talks continue, while separate reporting says President Trump could announce the council’s lineup this week.
- The IDF reported a firefight near Rafah that killed two militants during ongoing search operations, as media note delays and mutual accusations of ceasefire violations raising doubts about moving to stage two.