Gaza Ceasefire meets the expiry date with Israel and Hamas on the way forward

Cnn
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In the first phase of the ceasefire in Gaza, in which dozens of Israeli hostages and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners were freed, the expiry date reached on Saturday – divided with Israel and Hamas, which is next.

Essentially, the Israelis want phase one to continue – the exchange of living and deceased hostages, the continued release of Palestinian prisoners and the flow of higher aids in Gaza strips. It is believed that 24 Israeli hostages in the Gaza are still alive.

However, Hamas insists that the negotiations include the withdrawal of Israeli forces from parts of the Gaza Strip that still occupy it and a permanent end of the conflict, as provided for in the second phase of the deal.

After a consultation with the ministers on Saturday, Israel's office Benjamin Netanyahu announced in the early morning hours of Sunday that Israel supports a US proposal to temporarily extend the current ceasefire during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan and the Jewish holiday through.

According to this framework, the ceasefire expansion would begin with a significant publication of half of the remaining Israeli living and deceased hostages in Gaza. The explanation states: “On the first day of the frame, half of the living and deceased hostages will be released and after the conclusion – if the agreement for a permanent caseefire – is published – the remaining life and reinforcement is published.”

The proposed expansion of the United States would not mean entering the second phase of the deal, an approach that Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem had excluded earlier on Saturday and announced that Israel “intended to regain his prisoners and at the same time maintain the possibility of resuming aggression against the gaza strip, which contradicts the conditions of the agreement.”

“The first phase in the manner proposed by the crew is unacceptable for us,” he said.

The original ceasefire agreement stipulates that the ceasefire can be continued as long as the negotiators speak, but it is not clear that they are.

An Israeli delegation returned abruptly from Cairo on Friday, one day after arrival. A Israeli source, who was familiar with the matter, said CNN earlier a week that Israel tried to extend the first phase of the agreement “as far as possible” in order to publish more hostages.

The United Nations General Secretary, António Guterres, issued an urgent objection to all parties on Saturday to avoid relapse into violence, and said: “It is absolutely necessary that all efforts are undertaken to prevent returns to prevent hostilities.”

In an obvious attempt to exercise the pressure, Hamas published a propaganda video on Saturday on Saturday, in which Israeli hostages are shown in Gaza, including a scene that was recently freed to say goodbye to his brother Eisan, which remains captive after 512 days.

The use of the video by the media has approved the use of the video, according to the headquarters of the hostages and the missing family forum, in a statement: “We demand from the decision -makers: see Eisan in the eyes. Do not stop the agreement that has already brought us to hostage dozens of hostages. You no longer have time! Now bring everyone home in a phase, ”it said.

The Israeli Prime Minister's office condemned the video as a cruel “psychological war”.

The ceasefire came into force in January. A total of 33 Israeli hostages were published, including two men who had been held in Gaza for a decade, and five Thai citizens who had worked on Kibbutz in southern Israel. Eight corpses were returned. This included the remains of Shiri Bibas and her two little sons – an extremely emotional moment for Israelis.

A total of 1,737 Palestinian prisoners were released, including 120 women and children. A thousand of the released prisoners were arrested after the Hamas attacks on Israel were attacked in October 2023. Others served long sentences, including life. Some have been in Israeli prisons for decades.

The Israeli forces also withdrew from an important corridor that split North and South Gaza.

The first phase was not smooth, with the allegations on each side that the other violates the agreement. Israel was annoyed by the choreographed handover ceremonies organized by Hamas and in particular by the return of a body organized by Shiri Bibas, which turned out to be that of a Gazan woman.

In return, Hamas Israel, the return of people in Gaza in the north, was delayed part of the first phase of the agreement, and to hinder the entry of essential medication and hospital supplies as well as tents, prefabricated houses, fuel and rubble machines in Gaza

There were several delays and changes to the schedule and a lot of Brinkmanship, but international mediators were able to keep the deal alive.

Against this background, the talks should begin in the second phase of the deal in early February. These were repeatedly delayed, given the allegations from Hamas that Israel showed no interest in phase two.

Right members of the Israeli cabinet have called for a return to war after the first phase has been completed. Your support is crucial for maintaining the management of Netanyahu, which has to pass a budget by the end of the month.

The Hamas showed in the first phase of the deal that it is still standing, even if it is struck. The goals of transforming the ceasefire into a permanent end to hostility and the destruction of Hamas are irreconcilable without the group being disarmed. It showed no signs of it.

Waiting in the wings is the developing Arabic plan to offer an alternative to Trump's blueprint for the removal of the two million people from Gaza. Regional sources say that there is a 10-year mandate for reconstruction, the government and the security of Gaza, and on Tuesday it should go to a summit of the Arab league. The Trump administration would then be handed over.

However, it is a long -term plan based on a solid and sustainable end of hostility. The Israeli government has not shown a sign that it is ready for it.