The talks to extend the Gaza ceasefire between Hamas and Israel have kick-started in Cairo, confirmed negotiators between Egypt and Qatar ahead of Saturday’s expiration of the ceasefire’s first phase.
Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said an Israeli delegation has travelled to Egypt to see whether there is enough common ground to negotiate an extension to the deal.
Israel and Hamas have exchanged prisoners even after several deadlocks over the release of hostages from both sides.
The fragile first phase continues to hold after Israel released 46 Palestinian prisoners, including 24 children from Gaza, after a delay in the verification of the bodies of four captives handed over by Hamas.
Hamas officials have demanded their inclusion in the second phase of truce talks currently going on in the Egyptian capital.
Its polit-bureau official Basem Naim told reporters, “We are committed to this deal, but we cannot accept to go for the end of the first phase—which is next Saturday—without being engaged or involved in the negotiations about the second phase.”
“I think the Israelis are planning to escalate again, despite the fact—we have said many times—that we are committed to the deal. We have already done our duties according to the deal, and we are ready to continue implementing the deal,” Naim said.
The ceasefire deal brokered by the US and with the help of Egypt and Qatar has ceased the hostilities on both sides.
However, Israel and Hamas have accused each other of sabotaging the ceasefire deal for reluctantly delaying the release of the captives.
Gaza’s Health Ministry has confirmed 48,365 Palestinian deaths in Israel’s war on Gaza, while 111,780 people have been wounded.
The Government Media Office updated its death toll to at least 61,709, saying thousands of Palestinians missing under the rubble are presumed dead.
At least 1,139 people were killed in Israel during the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attacks, and approximately more than 200 were taken as hostages.
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