 "Hamas 'rejects' Israel's proposal to extend first phase of Gaza truce")
Hamas has said that it has rejected Israel’s proposal of extending the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire, which expired on Saturday, by six weeks.
Hazem Qassem, the Palestinian terrorist group’s spokesperson told Al-Araby TV that there are currently no discussions for the next phase of the Gaza truce deal.
The first phase was set in motion on January 19. During the six-week-long period, Hamas released 25 hostages and returned the bodies of eight others to Israel in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
The second phase of the fragile truce was intended to facilitate the release of dozens of hostages still held in Gaza and lay the groundwork for a more lasting resolution to the war.
Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, dispatched a delegation to Cairo, where Egypt, acting as a mediator, confirmed that “intensive talks” had begun. The negotiations involve delegations from Israel, Egypt, and fellow mediators Qatar and the United States.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had sent a delegation to Cairo, and mediator Egypt said “intensive talks” on the second phase had begun with the presence of delegations from Israel as well as fellow mediators Qatar and the United States.
But by early Saturday, there was no sign of consensus, and Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem said the group rejected “the extension of the first phase in the formulation proposed by the occupation (Israel)”.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsA Palestinian source involved in the negotiations told AFP that, even without a Hamas delegation present in Cairo, efforts were ongoing to break the deadlock.
Max Rodenbeck of the International Crisis Group think tank cautioned that the second phase would not begin immediately. “But I think the ceasefire probably won’t collapse also,” he added.
The preferred Israeli scenario is to free more hostages under an extension of the first phase, rather than a second phase, Defence Minister Israel Katz said.
With inputs from agencies
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