Hamas expects new round of indirect ceasefire talks with 'Israel'
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The Palestinian Resistance is expecting a resumption of indirect talks with the Israeli occupation for a new phase of the ceasefire.
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Freed Palestinian prisoner Ammar al-Daghma, 42, is greeted by a crowd as he arrives in the Gaza Strip after being released from an Israeli prison following a ceasefire agreement in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025 (AP)
Hamas anticipates that indirect negotiations with the Israeli occupation over the second phase of the ongoing Gaza truce will commence early next week, a senior official of the Palestinian group said Friday.
“We expect the second phase of the ceasefire negotiations to begin early next week, and mediators are continuing discussions on this matter,” Hamas official Taher al-Nunu stated.
A source familiar with the talks told AFP that mediators had informed Hamas of their hope to start the next phase of negotiations in Doha next week.
The initial phase of the ceasefire, brokered by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States, took effect on January 19. Under its terms, talks for the second phase were scheduled to begin on February 3.
The first phase, lasting 42 days, involved the release of 33 Israeli captives in exchange for approximately 1,900 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails. The upcoming phase is expected to focus on securing the release of the remaining captives and discussions on a more lasting end to the war.
Hamas has repeatedly expressed readiness to enter the second phase of negotiations. While Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dispatched a team to Doha on February 8 to address technical details of the current agreement, it was not authorized to discuss the next stage.
'Israel' avoiding engagement
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is evading engagement in phase two of the Gaza ceasefire-prisoner exchange deal, relying on US support and President Donald Trump's plan to displace Gaza's population, a senior Palestinian official told Al Mayadeen on Thursday.
The official pointed out that the Israeli delegation that arrived in the Qatari capital Doha did not bring any new proposals regarding the negotiations but merely handed over a list of captives still held by the Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas.
The Palestinian group views the failure to resume negotiations regarding phase two of the agreement—originally scheduled to begin a week ago—as clear evidence of a shift in "Israel’s" position, which now hinges on disregarding this stage entirely, the official told Al Mayadeen.
Ceasefire at risk
The current fragile ceasefire agreement is at risk of being jeopardized in recent days, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned on Tuesday that the bombardment of Gaza would resume if captives were not released by Saturday.
His statement matched that of US President Donald Trump, who warned a day earlier that "all hell" would break out if Hamas did not release "all" Israeli captives by Saturday.
