FM: Israel ready to enter second stage of deal with Hamas

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar has announced that Israel is prepared to move forward with the second stage of negotiations with Hamas.

Speaking at a briefing with foreign journalists, Sa'ar stated that Israel is ready to progress towards this next phase, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

However, the country’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, during a speech in the Knesset on March 3, reiterated that Israel remains focused on extending the first stage, as there is currently little hope of reaching an agreement on the second stage. 

Netanyahu added that direct negotiations on this matter would likely lead to further escalation.

Sa'ar clarified that progress towards the second stage is contingent on reaching an agreement regarding the release of hostages. However, he also warned that the possibility of resuming military action remains on the table.

“If necessary, we will resume the war,” Sa'ar stated.

Furthermore, the Foreign Minister expressed concerns over the humanitarian aid flowing into the Gaza Strip, which he claimed was being exploited by Hamas to fund its ongoing conflict with Israel. “This is not humanitarian aid; it is a source of enrichment for Hamas,” he explained.

By Aghakazim Guliyev