Israel and Hamas signaled readiness for the next phase of ceasefire negotiations on Saturday, as mediators pushed forward efforts to extend the fragile truce that began in January.
Hamas stated there were “positive indicators” for the start of the second-phase talks but did not provide details. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed that Israel had accepted the mediators’ invitation and would send a delegation to Doha on Monday.
Negotiations are being facilitated by Egypt and Qatar. A Hamas delegation is currently in Cairo for discussions with Egyptian mediators, aiming to progress toward a deal that could lead to an end to the war. Hamas spokesman Abdel-Latif Al-Qanoua reiterated the group’s readiness to engage in talks and called for intensified efforts to lift the blockade on Gaza.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, speaking at an Arab summit, announced that Cairo was working with Palestinian factions to form an independent committee to govern Gaza post-war—an alternative to U.S. proposals for Gaza’s reconstruction.
Despite ongoing diplomatic efforts, violence has continued. An Israeli airstrike in Rafah killed two Palestinians on Saturday. The Israeli military said the attack targeted a drone and individuals attempting to recover it, describing it as a botched smuggling attempt. Another Israeli drone strike on Friday killed two more people, with Israel claiming they were militants planting explosives.
The ceasefire deal, which began in January, initially led to the release of 33 Israeli and five Thai hostages in exchange for 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. However, Israel has since imposed a total blockade on Gaza, demanding Hamas release the remaining 59 hostages before final negotiations to end the war can proceed. Israeli authorities estimate that fewer than half of these hostages are still alive.
The conflict erupted after Hamas-led fighters launched an attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages, according to Israeli sources. Since then, Israel’s offensive has killed over 48,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities, and displaced nearly the entire population of Gaza. The war has drawn allegations of genocide and war crimes, which Israel denies.
Source: Reuters
