Israel negotiates ceasefire extension as Hamas pushes for next phase

Reuters

An Israeli delegation is in Cairo negotiating to extend the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire beyond Saturday, rather than moving into the next phase as Hamas demands, two Egyptian security sources said Friday.

Ceasefire at a Crossroads

The truce, which began last month, halted 15 months of fighting and led to the release of 33 Israeli hostages and nearly 2,000 Palestinian detainees. However, Israel and Hamas have accused each other of violations, casting doubt on the second phase, which was expected to include more hostage exchanges and talks on a permanent ceasefire.

Hamas urged the international community to pressure Israel into implementing the next phase immediately, but no agreement has been reached.

Israeli Proposal: A 42-Day Extension

Israeli officials are now negotiating a 42-day extension, during which Hamas would release three hostages per week in exchange for more Palestinian detainees, according to Egyptian sources.

Talks are mediated by Egypt and Qatar, with U.S. support. President Donald Trump said Thursday that discussions were “pretty good” but added, "Nobody really knows what will happen."

Uncertain Future for Gaza

Negotiations are further complicated by disagreements over Gaza’s future. Key unresolved issues include:

Who will govern Gaza after the war.
How security will be managed.
Reconstruction efforts and funding.

Trump recently proposed turning Gaza into a “Riviera of the Middle East”, with Palestinians displaced into Egypt and Jordan—a plan widely rejected by Arab leaders.

 

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