An Israeli delegation is in Cairo negotiating to extend the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire beyond Saturday, rather than transitioning to the second phase as originally planned and as Hamas demands, two Egyptian security sources said on Friday.
The ceasefire agreement, reached last month, brought an end to 15 months of fighting, facilitated negotiations to end the war, and led to the release of 33 Israeli hostages from Gaza and approximately 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees from Israeli custody.
However, both Israel and Hamas have accused each other of ceasefire violations, raising doubts about whether the second phase of the deal—which includes additional hostage and prisoner releases and steps toward a permanent ceasefire—will proceed.
No consensus has emerged among Israelis, Palestinians, or Western and Arab governments regarding Gaza’s future, further complicating efforts to reach a long-term resolution.
On Friday, Hamas urged the international community to pressure Israel into implementing the second phase of the agreement without delay. If the first phase expires on Saturday without an agreement, the next steps remain uncertain.
State Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Palestinian Authority, Varsen Aghabekian, also called for the ceasefire phases to proceed as planned.
“I doubt anyone in Gaza will want to go back to war,” she stated in Geneva.
The negotiations in Cairo are being mediated by Egypt and Qatar, with support from the United States. US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that “pretty good talks” were taking place.
When asked about the likelihood of the ceasefire progressing to its second phase, Trump responded, “Nobody really knows, but we’ll see what happens.”
Gaza War
The war is the latest chapter in decades of conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.
It began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas fighters breached Israel’s border defenses from Gaza, attacking communities and killing around 1,200 people while taking approximately 250 hostages, according to Israeli reports.
Israel’s subsequent military offensive has resulted in over 48,000 Palestinian deaths, according to Palestinian authorities, while widespread destruction has left most of Gaza’s two million residents homeless.
Ceasefire Status
The ceasefire has largely held during its six weeks in effect, though both sides have accused each other of breaches, particularly regarding the treatment of Israeli hostages and Palestinian detainees during releases.
The United Nations has called images of malnourished Israeli hostages and freed Palestinian detainees distressing, highlighting the harsh conditions in which they were held.
Hamas has publicly displayed hostages during releases, while Israeli authorities have reportedly made Palestinian detainees wear clothing with pro-Israeli slogans upon release.
Israel is now seeking to extend the first phase of the ceasefire by 42 days, according to Egyptian security sources.
Israeli officials said earlier this week that they would attempt to prolong the current phase by securing the release of three hostages per week in exchange for Palestinian detainees.
Discussions on ending the war remain complex, as no agreement has been reached on key issues such as governance, security, reconstruction, and financial support for Gaza.
Trump recently proposed that the United States should take control of Gaza and redevelop it as a “Riviera of the Middle East,” with its population relocated to Egypt and Jordan.
Arab nations have rejected this idea but have not yet put forward an alternative plan.
European leaders have also opposed the displacement of Palestinians and continue to advocate for a two-state solution.
