The latest round of negotiations on the second phase of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has stalled, with no progress reported, according to a senior Hamas official.
The first phase of the truce, which halted 15 months of fighting, is set to expire on Saturday. However, under the agreement, hostilities should not resume as long as negotiations for the second phase continue. This phase is expected to address key issues such as Israeli troop withdrawals and the release of remaining hostages.
Despite mediation efforts from Qatar, Egypt, and the United States in Cairo, Hamas was not present in the latest round of talks and communicated its position through intermediaries. Israeli negotiators returned home on Friday without a breakthrough, and it remains unclear when discussions will resume.
The conflict, which began with Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack on Israel that killed 1,200 people and resulted in 250 hostages, has since led to over 48,000 Palestinian deaths, according to Gaza health officials. The Israeli government has maintained that Hamas cannot have any role in Gaza’s governance post-war, while Hamas has rejected Israeli demands for its leaders to go into exile.
The United Nations and international humanitarian organizations continue to call for the ceasefire to hold, emphasizing the urgent need for stability and increased aid to Gaza.
