8 hours agoNo progress reported regarding second phase of Gaza ceasefire
Periskopi(a year ago)
(a year ago)In the final round of talks on the second phase of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas the Palestinian group declared terrorist organisation by the United States and the European Union, no progress has been made. A senior official of the Palestinian radical group said it is unclear whether to resume talks [...]
In the final round of talks on the second phase of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas the Palestinian group declared terrorist organisation by the United States and the European Union, no progress has been made.
A senior official of the Palestinian radical group said it is unclear whether to resume talks Saturday for the second phase of the ceasefire.
The first phase of the ceasefire, which halted the 15-month war in the Gaza Strip, enabled the release of 33 hostages -- eight lifeless troops in exchange for the release of almost 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.
This phase ends on Saturday, but under the agreement, fighting will not resume until negotiations are held for the second phase, the phase could end the war in Gaza.
Officials from Israel, Qatar, Egypt and the United States have been involved in negotiations for the second phase in the talks held in Cairo and aimed at releasing all remaining hostages and withdrawing Israeli troops.
Hamas has not participated in the talks, but the position of representing through mediators from Egypt and Qatar. Basem Naim, a member of Hamas' political bureau, told The Associated Press there was no “progress” in finding a solution before Israeli negotiators returned home Friday evening.
Now, it is not clear whether negotiators will return to Cairo to continue talks on Saturday, as previously envisioned, and Naim said there is no information about when the talks could resume.
Hamas started the war in Gaza after attacking Israel on October 7, 1923, killing 1,200 and kidnapping 250 others. Since then, more than 48,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza as a result of Israel's military offensive.
In January, the two sides agreed to a three-stage ceasefire agreement aimed at ending the war. / REL
