GAZA CITY: Israel and Hamas on Sunday expressed readiness to engage in a fresh round of ceasefire negotiations, as mediators from Egypt, Qatar, and the United States work to extend the fragile truce that began in January.
A senior Hamas official stated on Sunday that there were “positive indicators” for the next phase of negotiations but did not provide further details.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed that Israel has accepted an invitation from mediators and will send a delegation to Doha on Monday to discuss the terms of the ceasefire’s second phase.
Hamas representatives met with Egyptian mediators in Cairo over the weekend, calling for an immediate start to negotiations under previously agreed parameters.
Mahmoud Mardawi, a senior Hamas leader, stated that the second phase should lead to a permanent end to the war, stressing the need for humanitarian aid to re-enter the enclave “without restrictions or conditions”.
For the next phase of the ceasefire talks, the Palestinian group demanded a full Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza and an end to the Israeli blockade.
Hamas is also demanding the reconstruction of Gaza as majority of the territory has been reduced to rubble during the more than 15 months of Israeli bombardments. The Palestinian group is also seeking financial support for Gaza residents.
Following talks with mediators, Hamas spokesperson Abdel-Latif Al-Qanoua described the indicators for the next phase as “positive”.
Israel seeks to extend first-phase truce
While Israel has agreed to attend the new round of talks, Israeli media reported that the government’s security cabinet was set to meet on Sunday to discuss its stance.
Israeli officials reportedly favour extending the first-phase truce until mid-April, rather than immediately transitioning into final negotiations for a permanent ceasefire.
Under the existing truce, which started on 19 January, Hamas has released 33 Israeli hostages and five Thai nationals in exchange for approximately 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.
The Israeli government estimates that of the 59 hostages still held by Hamas, fewer than half are believed to be alive.
Despite diplomatic efforts, Israel continued violence in Gaza. On Saturday, an Israeli airstrike killed two Palestinians in Rafah, southern Gaza.
According to the Israeli military, the strike targeted “several suspects” attempting to retrieve a drone that had crossed from Israel into Gaza in what was suspected to be a botched smuggling attempt.
A separate Israeli drone strike on Friday also killed two individuals.
Gaza reconstruction proposals
The governance of Gaza post-conflict remains a key issue. In Cairo, Hamas reportedly approved the formation of a committee of national and independent figures to oversee the administration of Gaza until elections are held.
This aligns with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi’s earlier proposal at an Arab summit, where he suggested a Palestinian technocratic committee to govern Gaza as part of a reconstruction plan.
The Egyptian plan stands in contrast to US President Donald Trump’s widely criticised “Middle East Riviera” vision, which reportedly includes proposals for Palestinian displacement.
Israel ‘weaponising starvation’
Since March 1, Israel has blocked the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza, prompting accusations from UN human rights experts that it is “weaponising starvation”.
The blockade has further strained an already desperate humanitarian situation.
Gaza’s health ministry reports that 48,453 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been killed since the Israeli war began.
The conflict has also displaced nearly Gaza’s entire population, according to UN agencies.
US President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to Hamas, demanding the release of all remaining hostages. “A beautiful future awaits, but not if you hold hostages. If you do, you are DEAD!” Trump stated.
Despite previously refusing direct engagement, the Trump administration has now confirmed the start of unprecedented direct talks with Hamas, a group Washington has designated a terrorist organisation since 1997.
