Hamas has stated that there has been “no progress” in the indirect talks with Israel regarding the second phase of a ceasefire agreement. According to a senior Hamas official, it remains uncertain whether discussions will resume on Saturday.
The U.N. World Food Program confirmed that during the first phase of the ceasefire, it successfully reached 1 million Palestinians across Gaza. In a statement shared on social media, the agency emphasized, “The ceasefire must hold,” adding, “There can be no going back.”
The initial phase of the ceasefire, which paused the 15-month-long fighting in the Gaza Strip, also facilitated the release of 33 hostages in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. This phase is set to expire on Saturday. However, under the terms of the agreement between Israel and Hamas, fighting is not expected to resume while negotiations for the second phase continue. The second phase could potentially lead to a permanent end to the conflict and the return of remaining hostages.
The discussions surrounding the second phase are taking place in Cairo, with Israeli, Qatari, Egyptian, and U.S. officials working to mediate the process. Although Hamas has not directly participated in these talks, its positions have been communicated through Egyptian and Qatari intermediaries. Basem Naim, a member of Hamas’ political bureau, stated that there had been “no progress” in finding a resolution before Israeli negotiators returned home on Friday. Naim further added that he had “no idea” when the negotiations might resume.
Both sides had agreed to the three-phase ceasefire deal in January, with the aim of bringing an end to the war.
