Israel is scheduled to send a delegation to Doha on Monday to negotiate a ceasefire extension contract after Hamas consulted with Egyptian officials in Cairo.
Israel has confirmed it will send a delegation to Qatar’s capital for consultations on extending a vulnerable ceasefire with Hamas.
On Saturday night, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the delegation would be sent to Doha on Monday in “efforts to advance negotiations.”
This comes after Hamas team met Egyptian officials in Cairo on Saturday to negotiate the second phase of the ceasefire agreement.
“The delegation emphasized the need to immediately comply with all terms of the contract in order to begin negotiations for the second phase, open border crossings and allow for the entry of relief material into Gaza without restrictions or conditions,” the statement said.
In a previous comment, Hamas spokesman Abdel Latif al-Kanoea said a day ago that “the indicators are positive regarding the initiation of the second phase negotiations.”
The first phase of the ceasefire agreement ended on March 1 after a six-week exchange in Gaza for the release of 1,800 Palestinians in Israeli prisons.
Israel said it wanted to extend the first phase of its contract until mid-April, refusing to move to the second phase of the deal, which includes a complete end to the war and a complete withdrawal of troops from Gaza.
However, Hamas says he hopes that both sides will move into the second phase, as agreed.
Protests in Tel Aviv
Meanwhile, the liberated Israeli prisoners and the families of those still being held in Gaza have called on the government to proceed to the second phase of the contract and prevent a return to war.
When protesting in Tel Aviv on Saturday evening, Einav Zangauker, the mother of Matan Zangarkar in Gaza, accused Netanyahu of playing a “political game of chess” with prisoners of war.
“The war could resume in a week. Only an agreement that brings them at once would guarantee their return,” she said.
In a report from Jordan, Al Jazeera’s Hamda Sulf said Israel’s push to see an extension of Phase 1 of the contract led to a desperately needed humanitarian blockade.
“There is still a lot of pressure on Netanyahu from the families of prisoners who have accused the Prime Minister of extending the war for his own personal and political interests,” she said.
In discussions, Israel continued its fatal attack on Gaza, killing at least three Palestinians on Saturday.
Palestinians in Gaza struggle under aid lockdown that exacerbated the tragic humanitarian crisis during the Holy Month of Ramadan.
Since Friday night, Rafa has been the target of heavy Israeli attacks from tanks and drones, and the fires have affected residential areas, including Alginina, Ashshoka and Tar Az Sultan, Palestinian communications agency reported.
At least 48,453 Palestinians have been killed and 111,860 injured in Israeli attacks, according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health.
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