Gaza ceasefire talks: Hamas, Israel in new Doha negotiations
Hamas has called for negotiations on the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire, while Israel has announced it will send a delegation to Doha for further talks on Monday, Reuters reports.
Negotiators from the Palestinian Islamist movement met with Egyptian mediators on Saturday to discuss maintaining the fragile truce in Gaza after more than fifteen months of war, triggered by Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel.
The delegation emphasized the importance of adhering to all terms of the agreement, initiating direct negotiations for the second phase, reopening border crossings, and reintroducing aid into the territory without restrictions or conditions, the Palestinian movement said in a statement on Sunday.
Israel seeks to extend the first phase of the ceasefire until mid-April. It demands the complete demilitarization of the territory, Hamas’s withdrawal from Gaza, and the return of the remaining hostages before moving forward with the second phase.
Hamas, which insists on remaining in Gaza, where it seized power in 2007, is calling for the full withdrawal of Israeli forces, an end to the blockade, the reconstruction of the territory, and financial aid based on the outcomes of a recent Arab summit.
On January 17, the final ceasefire agreement for Gaza was signed in Doha, Qatar, according to the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The agreement was signed by representatives of Israel, Hamas, the United States, and Qatar, with the United States, Qatar, and Egypt acting as guarantors.
According to sources, the agreement included the release of 33 Israeli hostages and a partial withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza. As part of its initial stages, starting January 19, the Israeli army began gradually withdrawing forces from key areas of Gaza, while Palestinian authorities gained wider access to the northern region.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
