 "Palestinians walk near the rubble of buildings, amid a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip, on February 27, 2025. Reuters")
An Israeli delegation in Cairo is negotiating to extend the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement by an additional 42 days, according to a Reuters report, citing two Egyptian security sources on Friday.
However, Hamas is against this extension and insists on moving forward to the second phase of the agreement as initially planned.
While the the second phase is meant to include steps leading to a permanent end to the war, Israel is already gearing up to return to war against Hamas, believing that the ceasefire and hostage release deal will not continue for more than several weeks, according to a Times of Israel report, citing a senior Western diplomat.
As the IDF plans to change its tactics from last year’s conflict, with Israeli military and political officials promising a more intense military campaign, a Western diplomat familiar with Jerusalem’s preparations said that there doesn’t seem to be a strategic shift in Israel’s approach to advancing an alternative to Hamas.
The government is still prioritising the dismantlement of Hamas’s governing and military capabilities, believing that no alternative can be established in Gaza until the terror group has been defeated, Times of Israel quoted the Western diplomat as saying.
However, the diplomat argues that this approach is “misguided,” saying that planning and implementing an alternative to Hamas should take place simultaneously with the IDF’s efforts against the group.
“Otherwise, what you will have is indefinite Israeli occupation and Hamas insurgency,” the diplomat was quoted as saying.
The first phase of the ceasefire is scheduled to end on Saturday, and the warring parties have yet to clarify the next steps if an agreement is not reached by then.
Egypt and Qatar are mediating the negotiations, with support from the US.
In a statement on Friday, the Palestinian militant group called on the international community to urge Israel to move immediately into the second phase without delay.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsTwo Israeli government officials told Reuters that Israel is seeking to extend the initial phase, with Hamas releasing three hostages each week in exchange for Palestinians held by Israel.
With inputs from agencies