Hamas: No progress in Israel ceasefire 2nd phase talks

CAIRO — The recent negotiations regarding the second phase of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas have hit a standstill, with no clear indication if talks will continue on Saturday, according to a senior Hamas official.
The current phase of the ceasefire is set to conclude on Saturday; however, the terms of the deal state that military actions should remain halted while discussions on the second phase are ongoing. This upcoming phase aims to potentially cease the conflict in Gaza, include the withdrawal of Israeli forces, and facilitate the return of the remaining living hostages to their homes. Israel has reported that 32 out of the 59 hostages believed to still be in Gaza are deceased.
The first phase, effectively pausing 15 months of conflict in Gaza, led to the release of 33 hostages — including eight bodies — in exchange for almost 2,000 Palestinian detainees. The ceasefire allowed hundreds of thousands of individuals to return to northern Gaza, saw an increase in humanitarian aid, and resulted in the repositioning of Israeli forces to buffer zones.
Representatives from Israel, Qatar, Egypt, and the United States have been engaging in negotiations in Cairo. Although Hamas itself was not directly present, it had its position conveyed through Egyptian and Qatari mediators. Basem Naim, a member of Hamas’ political bureau, expressed that no progress was made before the Israeli negotiators left on Friday. It remains uncertain whether the mediators will head back to Cairo to resume discussions on Saturday, with Naim offering no insights on when talks may continue.
Hamas initiated the current conflict with a violent attack on October 7, 2023, resulting in 1,200 deaths in Israel, primarily among civilians, and the abduction of around 250 hostages. Subsequently, Israel’s military campaign claimed more than 48,000 Palestinian lives, as reported by Gaza health authorities. These figures do not differentiate between civilians and combatants, but they indicate that over half of the deceased are women and children.
The participants had agreed to a three-phase ceasefire deal in January. On Friday, Hamas expressed its full commitment to fulfilling all stipulations of the accord at every stage and urged the international community to pressure Israel into swiftly advancing to the second phase without delays.
Several factors complicate the ceasefire’s future. Israel has clearly stated that Hamas must not be part of Gaza’s governance post-conflict. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also dismissed any potential role for the Palestinian Authority in Gaza, which is predominantly controlled by Hamas’ rival faction, Fatah.
Hamas leader Mohamed Darwish reiterated on Saturday that the group is ready to transfer power to a national consensus government of Palestinians or a technocrat body proposed by Egypt, neither of which would be affiliated with Hamas or Fatah. His comments were addressed to next week’s summit of Arab leaders in Cairo. Furthermore, Hamas rejected Israel’s suggestion for its leadership to go into exile.
Hamas has also opposed an Israeli proposal to extend the ceasefire’s initial phase by 42 days, effectively doubling its duration, as it contradicts the original agreement. The Israeli proposition suggested prolonging the ceasefire through Ramadan in exchange for additional hostage transactions.
In Gaza, the holy month of Ramadan is marked by challenges amid ongoing conflict. In the southern city of Rafah, video footage depicts a long table set up for breaking the fast amidst ruins, decorated with lights as dusk sets in. Palestinians, weary from war, observed the first day of Ramadan with hope and concern.
“Today there is a lot of goodness, but there is no money,” said Huda Matar, noting rising prices despite increased availability of essentials compared to the previous year. Netanyahu’s office previously mentioned that mediators were exploring methods to increase humanitarian aid to Gaza to alleviate population suffering and support regional stability.
The U.N. food agency recently announced reaching one million Palestinians across Gaza during the first phase of the deal. “The ceasefire must hold,” declared the World Food Program, emphasizing no return to violence.
In new developments, Hamas released video footage depicting hostages, including two embracing brothers before one was released. The video, seemingly filmed under duress, was likely captured before Iair Horn’s release on February 15, leaving his brother, Eitan, behind. Eitan called for concluding the second and third phases of the ceasefire, stating, “enough of war.”