According to Egypt, Israel is attending consultations on Thursday about Palestinian group Hamas moving into the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire, which was agreed between the two in January.
But even when talks are underway, Israeli officials are at risk of their success by revealing that they are attempting to change the terms of the agreed three-stage deal.
Under the terms of the transaction, the first six-week phase, scheduled to close on March 1, will see the withdrawal of all Israeli troops from Gaza’s major population regions, an increase in humanitarian aid to Gaza, and the return of displaced people north of the Enclave.
As part of the contract, Hamas released 33 prisoners, including eight bodies, in exchange for around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners who were held in Israeli detention.
The terms of the second stage of the contract were intentionally blurred, and many of the details were expected to be countered in future negotiations. Among the terms agreed were details of a permanent ceasefire to end the Israeli war that killed more than 61,700 Palestinians.
The third phase of the contract will focus on future governance in Gaza and the reconstruction of the destroyed enclave.
What did Israel say about the consultation?
A statement provided to reporters on Thursday by anonymous Israeli officials said that Israel has decided not to withdraw from the land it occupys along the Gaza-Egypt border, despite being part of the previous agreement.
“We will not leave the Philadelphi Corridor. We will not allow Hamas killers to roam our border with pickup trucks and guns again, and we will not allow them to run through smuggling,” the official said.
Satellite images obtained by Al Jazeera earlier this month show that Israeli forces have begun new construction in the areas around the border.
Also on Thursday, Foreign Minister Gideon Saa said the Israeli delegation for talks in Cairo would “see if there is a common foundation to negotiate.”
“We said we were ready to extend the framework. [of phase one] In return for the release of more hostages,” Saa told reporters.
Have you agreed that all exchanges in Phase 1 have been fulfilled?
Hamas handed over the last four cops of Israeli prisoners who would be exchanged in the first phase of the deal without a ceremony on Wednesday, and Israel later released more than 600 Palestinian prisoners.
The prisoners were to be released on Saturday, but Israel delayed the handover in protest last week in protest of a ceremony held in Gaza when the bodies of four Israeli prisoners were released.
Hamas denies the delay, denying the ceremony humiliated him and “deliberate attempt to disrupt the agreement,”, stating that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision was “a deliberate attempt to disrupt the agreement.” [that] “Members of Izzat Al-Risheq, a member of Hamas’ Politburo, said in a statement on Sunday that it represents a blatant violation of its terms and the lack of reliability in occupation in the implementation of its obligations.”
Is this the first time Israel has been accused of violating ceasefire conditions?
The Government Media Office in Gaza (GMO) has reported more than 350 Israeli violations, including military intrusions, shootings, airstrikes, increased surveillance and obstruction of aid since the start of the ceasefire.
Israeli forces have killed and injured dozens of Palestinians through shootings and shootings since the ceasefire was implemented, according to the GMO. The GMO has previously reported delays allowing evacuated families to return to areas in northern Gaza, as well as agreed levels of assistance and emergency relief for the enclave.
Is the US seeking an extension of the ceasefire?
President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff is understood to be flying to the region this week to promote an extension to the current phase with the aim of entering stage two.
Witkov announced on Tuesday that a developer’s “summit” will be held to determine Gaza’s future. However, it was not clear when and where the summit will take place, or whether it referred to the three-phase ceasefire agreement, or whether it referred to Trump’s surprise plan to unilaterally “own” Gaza, as evidenced in a recent video the US president shared on social media.
Trump consistently called himself a “peaceman” and highlighted his role in securing a ceasefire. But aside his highly-derived Gaza plans, in which critics say it will effectively lead to ethnic cleansing of Palestinian ethnic groups, he is more vague about the future of the ceasefire deal, implying that it is Israel’s decision whether the war will continue.
Is the ceasefire popular in Israel?
Yes among the prisoners of war. In the movement of Israel’s far right and settlers, no.
Many of the prisoners of war families believe that Netanyahu manipulated both war and ceasefire negotiations for his political purposes.
But the negotiated release of around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners also attracted the rage of Israel’s far-right and settlers’ movements.
When the conditions for a ceasefire were first agreed, then far-right Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gwil resigned from his cabinet post in protest. At the same time, Hardline’s Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich was persuaded to remain in the Cabinet with the implied guarantee from Netanyahu that the deal would not lead to the enduring purpose of the war.
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