Netanyahu has sent a delegation to Egypt to discuss extending the ceasefire with Hamas in Gaza, just days before its first phase ends. Following the release of Israeli hostages’ bodies and Palestinian prisoners, tensions remain high. Public sentiment in Israel favors continuing the ceasefire to free remaining hostages. However, internal government pressures make future negotiations uncertain, impacting the prospects for a long-lasting peace agreement.
Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has dispatched a delegation to Egypt for renewed discussions on extending the ceasefire with Hamas in Gaza, just days before the initial agreement’s expiration. The Israeli team is set to depart for Cairo on Thursday, following the recent return of four Israeli hostages’ bodies by Hamas, which marked the conclusion of the first phase of the six-week deal established in January.
In a related development, 600 Palestinian prisoners expected to be released over the weekend were freed early Wednesday, including women and children, many of whom showed signs of severe health deterioration while in Israeli custody. The initial ceasefire stage is scheduled to end by March 2, with ongoing negotiations for its second phase having faced multiple delays amid recurring breaches by both parties.
Both Israel and Hamas have leveled accusations against each other concerning violations of the truce, which has halted 15 months of conflict and allowed substantial humanitarian aid into Gaza. The hostilities have left over 48,000 Palestinians dead, and the territory is in ruins, struggling with a severe humanitarian crisis. On the Israeli side, approximately 1,200 fatalities and 250 hostages resulted from the initial Hamas attack that instigated the conflict.
Israeli officials have indicated that the country seeks to prolong the ongoing ceasefire talks, but uncertainty prevails regarding its outcomes. Should the first phase conclude without an extension agreement, the continuity of hostages’ weekly exchanges remains in question, along with the duration of any potential extension of the agreement.
Public opinion in Israel appears to favor the continuation of the ceasefire to facilitate the release of the remaining 59 hostages, with many presumed lost. Nevertheless, Netanyahu faces significant pressure from his right-wing coalition to realize a total victory over Hamas, complicating his commitment to a potential second stage of the ceasefire.
In a statement issued Thursday, Hamas expressed its readiness to engage in discussions on the next phase, asserting that hostages could only be liberated through adherence to the ceasefire. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar conveyed that the delegation’s purpose in Egypt would be to explore opportunities for extending the existing framework in exchange for more hostages being released.
Reports confirm that Israel intends to maintain its forces along the Gaza-Egypt border, which contradicts portions of the ceasefire agreement and threatens the fragile peace. Hamas criticized these intentions as a serious infringement on the ceasefire framework, as both sides continue to negotiate the terms of future governance in Gaza post-conflict.
In summary, Israel has initiated talks with Egypt to potentially extend the ceasefire with Hamas, as the expiration date of the current phase approaches. Despite some release of hostages and Palestinian prisoners, tensions remain high, with both sides accusing each other of breaches. Public opinion in Israel largely supports extending the ceasefire, but Netanyahu faces internal pressures that complicate these negotiations. The challenge now resides in achieving a concrete agreement that addresses the urgent humanitarian needs while navigating complex political dynamics.
Original Source: www.theguardian.com
