Israel will begin negotiations this week on the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire deal, Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said Tuesday, as uncertainty looms over the fragile truce mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States. The negotiations, originally set to start on February 3, have faced repeated delays, with Israel signaling mixed positions on its engagement.
"We had yesterday night a security cabinet meeting. We decided to open negotiations on the second phase. It will happen this week," Saar said, according to AFP, adding that Israel remains committed to securing the release of all remaining hostages held by Hamas.
The ceasefire, which took effect on January 19, has seen the release of 19 Israeli hostages in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. Another 14 hostages, six of whom are believed to be alive, are expected to be released under the first phase of the agreement. Four bodies of deceased hostages are also slated for return on Thursday.
However, Hamas has accused Israel of delaying the entry of humanitarian aid and mobile homes for displaced Gazans, warning that it could postpone further hostage releases if conditions do not improve. In response, an Israeli official stated that plans are in place to allow mobile homes into Gaza for civilians facing harsh winter conditions amid the widespread destruction.
Israel has set a firm condition for the ceasefire's second phase, demanding the "complete demilitarization" of Gaza and rejecting any proposal that would transfer civilian control from Hamas to the Palestinian Authority. "We will not accept the continued presence of Hamas or any other terrorist organization in Gaza," Saar said.
The upcoming talks are expected to be difficult, as disagreements remain over post-war governance and long-term security arrangements. While Saar hinted that Israel might extend the first phase of the ceasefire if negotiations prove constructive, he cautioned that any final deal must align with Israel's security interests.
"If we will see there is a constructive dialogue with a possible horizon of getting to an agreement, we will make this time-frame work longer," Saar said.
The ceasefire was brokered in response to the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on southern Israel that killed approximately 1,200 people, according to Israeli authorities. Israel's subsequent military campaign has killed more than 48,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's health ministry, and displaced hundreds of thousands.
