Israel wants to continue hostage releases and extend the first phase, but Hamas insists on moving forward towards a permanent ceasefire.
Israeli and Hamas terrorist groups have resumed negotiations for a ceasefire in Cairo. The existing ceasefire is expected to expire this weekend, according to Egyptian officials.
If they have not reached an agreement, the battle could resume. During the six-week suspension that began on January 19, Hamas, which has controlled the Gaza Strip since 2006, has returned 25 hostages and eight bodies to Israel.
Hamas still carries an estimated 25 living hostages and 30 more bodies.
According to the Jerusalem Post Office, Israeli delegations arrived in Cairo on February 27, similar to Qatar’s delegation, which is mediating negotiations with Egypt and the United States.
According to the Israeli era, the Israeli negotiation team returned from Cairo on the evening of February 28th, but will return the next day.
Egyptian officials said Israel is seeking an extension of the first phase of the ceasefire for 42 days. Hamas opposes it, instead sticking to the original plan and is about to move into the second phase, which includes a step towards the lasting end of the war.
Related Stories
Under Israeli plan, three hostages are returned weekly in exchange for ongoing release of prisoners into Gaza and humanitarian assistance, as in the first phase.
However, Hamas says the only way they can release the remaining hostages is through their commitment to a ceasefire contract.
According to Israel’s Haaretz newspaper, extension of the first phase and releasing the remaining hostages will steal Hamas’ only negotiation tip.
Possibility of compromise could include returning the body of hostages, or being classified as sick in exchange for prisoners who provide long sentences, and improving conditions for detainees of Israeli prisoners and increasing humanitarian aid.
Israel does not want to withdraw from the Philadelphi Corridor, the buffer zone between Gaza and Egypt. In the first phase, its presence was reduced there, and in the second phase it was completely withdrawn.
The Red Cross vehicle arrives to collect co-containing the bodies of four Israeli hostages to be handed over by a Palestinian terrorist group in Khan Eunice, in the southern Gaza Strip, on February 20, 2025. Jehad alshrafi/ap
However, Israeli officials said on February 27 that Israel would not withdraw from the area to prevent Hamas from smuggling into arms.
The approximately 100 metres wide corridor runs approximately nine miles long, on the Gaza Egyptian Frontier on the Gaza side of the border.
The war began with Hamas’ surprise attack on Israeli border communities and military bases on October 7, 2023. An estimated 5,000 terrorists have killed 1,200 Israelis, injured thousands more, destroyed the community, and took 251 hostages.
In the subsequent war, Hamas-controlled Gaza health authorities say 48,000 people were killed. They do not distinguish between civilians and fighter jets. Israel says about half of them were Hamas members.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to the report.
