DayofPal– Hamas confirmed on Saturday that diplomatic mediation efforts, spearheaded by Egypt and Qatar, are actively progressing toward the full implementation of the ceasefire agreement with Israel and the commencement of negotiations for its second phase.
In a statement, Hamas spokesperson Abdul Latif Al-Qanoua underscored “positive indicators” suggesting movement in this direction.
“The efforts of Egyptian and Qatari mediators persist in ensuring the completion of the ceasefire’s implementation and in laying the groundwork for the second phase of negotiations, with encouraging signs emerging,” Al-Qanoua remarked.
Reaffirming Hamas’ readiness to engage in the next phase of talks, he stressed the necessity of fulfilling Palestinian demands while urging intensified efforts to alleviate Gaza’s humanitarian crisis and lift the protracted Israeli blockade.
A high-level Hamas delegation has been in Cairo since Friday, deliberating over mechanisms to initiate the second-phase negotiations, enforce Israeli compliance, and implement resolutions from the recent Arab summit, Al-Qanoua added.
The emergency Arab summit, convened in Cairo on Tuesday, underscored the imperative of fully executing the ceasefire agreement to secure a lasting cessation of hostilities and ensure Israel’s complete withdrawal from Gaza.
The summit further endorsed an ambitious five-year, $53 billion reconstruction initiative aimed at rebuilding Gaza without displacing its Palestinian inhabitants. However, both Israel and the United States categorically rejected the plan, instead reaffirming their commitment to the framework proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump.
On Friday, Egypt officially announced the arrival of a Hamas delegation in Cairo to engage in discussions regarding the ceasefire’s implementation and the necessary diplomatic steps to transition into the agreement’s second phase.
Egypt’s State Information Service confirmed that intensive deliberations with Hamas leadership, coupled with ongoing communications with both the United States and Qatar, are focused on securing essential guarantees for advancing to the next stage of the ceasefire process.
The first phase of the ceasefire, which lasted 42 days, concluded in early March. However, Israel has thus far refused to proceed to the second phase, which entails an official cessation of Israeli war.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, emboldened by U.S. support, has sought to prolong the first phase of the agreement, initially enacted on January 19, 2025, in order to maximize the release of Israeli captives without adhering to the broader military and humanitarian obligations stipulated in the deal.
Following the cessation of the initial truce, Israel swiftly reimposed a total blockade on Gaza, sealing all border crossings and obstructing the entry of humanitarian aid, a move widely interpreted as an attempt to coerce Hamas into submission.
Simultaneously, Israeli authorities have escalated their rhetoric, issuing threats of renewed military operations.
Between October 7, 2023, and January 19, 2025, Israel, bolstered by U.S. backing, waged a war in Gaza that, according to international human rights organizations, amounted to genocide.
The offensive resulted in over 160,000 Palestinian casualties, the majority of whom were women and children, while more than 14,000 people remain unaccounted for.
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