Failed ceasefire negotiations: Hamas says Israel dragging its feet on second phase

A Hamas source has revealed that the latest negotiations in Cairo failed to secure an agreement on the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire, blaming "Israel’s procrastination."

The source said that Israel has it’s mind set on prolonging the current first phase, which is due to expire on March 1, which Hamas views as “a violation of the agreement,” Caliber.Az reports per Israeli media.

The source stated that the group has urged mediators to pressure Tel Aviv into fulfilling all terms of the deal, accusing Israel of “delaying entry into second-phase negotiations.”

Discussions on the second phase were scheduled to begin on the 16th day of the agreement, meaning the beginning of February, but Israel has so far refused to engage, despite this stage being intended to bring the war to a permanent end.

The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas was meant to be the first step in bringing permanent end to the fighting and entailed the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

Within the 42 days of the first phase, which entered into force on January 19 after a delay, a total of 38 hostages have been released by Hamas, including 5 Thai-nationals that were employed in Israel as agricultural workers  and the remains of 8 Israeli hostages. Israel has repeatedly called out Hamas for the “macabre” spectacle the militants would organize during the release of the hostages, especially during the release of the remains of the Bibas family made up of an Israeli female and her two toddler children (abducted at 8 months and 4 years of age respectively).

In exchange, Israel has released more than 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, some of them serving life-term sentences for the murder of Israeli citizens while others were detained following the October 7 massacre.

By Nazrin Sadigova