Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu has instructed a delegation to Egypt to discuss extending the ceasefire with Hamas, approaching the end of its first phase. The ceasefire negotiations have faced delays, and ongoing violence complicates the situation. Despite public support for prolonging the ceasefire, Netanyahu confronts political pressure regarding military objectives in Gaza.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has sent a delegation to Egypt for discussions aimed at continuing the ceasefire with Hamas just two days before the expiration of the initial phase of the agreement. This delegation is scheduled to depart for Cairo late Thursday. This announcement follows Hamas’s release of the bodies of four Israeli hostages, marking the end of the first phase of a ceasefire deal established six weeks prior.
The first phase of the ceasefire, which has already seen the release of 600 Palestinian prisoners, is set to conclude on March 2. Negotiations for the second stage of the ceasefire, intended to lead to a permanent cessation of hostilities, have faced multiple delays. Both Israel and Hamas have accused each other of breaching the ceasefire terms, which have resulted in a significant humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with over 48,000 fatalities reported during the conflict.
Israeli officials have indicated their desire to extend the current ceasefire phase amid ongoing negotiations. It remains uncertain what will unfold should this phase conclude without an agreement on its continuation. Popular opinion in Israel supports extending the ceasefire, primarily to facilitate the release of the remaining hostages, although Netanyahu faces substantial pressure from his right-wing government to achieve decisive military victory over Hamas.
Hamas has expressed its readiness to negotiate the second phase under conditions that facilitate the release of hostages through adherence to the ceasefire. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar emphasized the delegation’s goal of finding a common negotiating ground for potential extensions of the ceasefire framework.
However, Israeli officials have confirmed that forces will not withdraw from the Gaza-Egypt border zone, which could jeopardize the truce. Hamas condemned these statements as potential violations of the ceasefire. The next stage of the agreement is unclear and involves a total withdrawal of Israeli forces and discussions regarding future governance of Gaza and reconstruction efforts.
A separate incident in northern Israel resulted in multiple injuries from a car-ramming attack attributed to a Palestinian individual. This occurred concurrently with heightened military operations in the West Bank following the initiation of the truce in Gaza, showcasing the complexity of the ongoing conflict and its repercussions across the region.
In summary, Prime Minister Netanyahu has dispatched a delegation to Egypt to negotiate an extension of the ceasefire with Hamas, which faces expiration imminently. Despite public support in Israel for prolonging the ceasefire to secure hostage releases, Netanyahu’s administration grapples with internal pressures. The fragile situation remains precarious as ongoing military operations continue to create tension within the region.
Original Source: www.theguardian.com
