Uncertainty looms over the future of the Gaza ceasefire as Hamas on Saturday rejected Israel’s proposal to extend the first phase of the truce, insisting that discussions should now move towards the next stage of negotiations.
The ceasefire, which was initially brokered to facilitate hostage exchanges and humanitarian aid deliveries, is set to expire as both sides remain at odds over its continuation.
Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem told Al Araby TV that no discussions were underway regarding the second phase of the agreement, holding Israel responsible for delaying further negotiations.
According to Qassem, Israel’s reluctance to proceed to the next stage stems from its desire to secure the return of the remaining captives while keeping the option of resuming hostilities open. “Israel wants to extend phase one without implementing the full agreement,” he said.
His remarks came a day after Hamas reaffirmed its commitment to upholding all aspects of the truce agreement, urging Israel to move forward with the second phase.
Deadlock over ceasefire terms
The second phase of the ceasefire, as originally envisioned, was intended to address a long-term cessation of hostilities, the release of all remaining captives, and a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.
Israel estimates that 59 captives remain in Gaza, of whom at least 24 are believed to be alive. On Thursday, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said that Tel Aviv was open to prolonging the ceasefire under the current framework in exchange for more hostage releases.
“We said we are ready to extend the framework [of phase one] in return for the release of more hostages. If it is possible, we’ll do that,” Saar said.
However, Hamas has dismissed any extension of the first phase as an attempt to evade the next round of negotiations. Sami al-Arian, a professor at Istanbul Zaim University, told Al Jazeera that the situation remains unclear.
“The American envoy Steve Witkoff has indicated he wants to explore the idea of extending phase one, which is the Israeli position,” he said. “So that’s bad news for any negotiations because Hamas won’t agree to this.”
Calls for ceasefire extension
The prospect of renewed fighting has raised concerns among humanitarian organisations, which have repeatedly stressed the need for a sustained ceasefire to facilitate aid operations in Gaza.
“The impact of safe and sustained humanitarian access is evident,” the World Food Programme said in a post on X. “The ceasefire must hold. There can be no going back.”
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also underlined the importance of maintaining the truce, warning that the coming days would be critical for negotiations.
“The ceasefire and hostage release deal must hold. The coming days are critical. The parties must spare no effort to avoid a breakdown of this deal,” Guterres said at the UN headquarters in New York.
Amid ongoing uncertainty, Israel has reportedly agreed to a US proposal for a temporary ceasefire to coincide with the Ramadan and Passover periods. However, the move was swiftly rejected by Hamas, further complicating efforts to de-escalate tensions.
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