Israel to send delegation to Qatar to advance Gaza ceasefire talks Monday

CAIRO – 8 March 2025: Israel is set to send a delegation to the Qatari capital, Doha, on Monday to advance talks regarding Gaza ceasefire, according to an announcement by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office today.

The Israeli delegation’s visit comes in acceptance of an invitation from mediators.

Meanwhile, a Hamas delegation arrived in Cairo on Friday to discuss the continuation of the ceasefire agreement.

Hamas announced on Saturday that there are "positive indications" regarding the negotiations for the second phase of the ceasefire agreement with Israel in the Gaza Strip.

The negotiations continue while Israel has halted the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza since March 2, the day after the first phase of the ceasefire agreement, which took effect on January 19, expired.

The ceasefire, brokered by Egypt, Qatar, and the US, halted a war that has claimed the lives of over 48,000 Palestinians in Gaza since October 2023. It also allowed for the release of 38 captives held by Hamas, including 30 living individuals, in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

Hamas, which still holds 59 captives, seeks to transition to the second phase of the agreement, which includes the release of all captives in exchange for an end to the war.

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Israeli captive soldier Matan Angrest sent a message of distress in a few-minute new video released by Hamas on Friday. He urged his government to advance the ceasefire and captive-prisoner swap agreement with Hamas, stating that he and his fellow…

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Hamas stated it is prepared to release all captives at once if the second phase is initiated, which also entails the complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, paving the way for a major reconstruction process.

However, Israel aims to extend the expired first phase to facilitate the release of more captives without the obligation to end the war.

Israel's aid blockade is intended to pressure Hamas into accepting the ceasefire extension, a proposal that the movement has rejected and described as an attempt to evade the continuation of the agreement.

Hamas spokesman Abdul Latif Al-Qanou stated in press remarks today that efforts by Egyptian and Qatari mediators are ongoing to finalize the implementation of the ceasefire agreement and initiate discussions for the second phase.

He affirmed Hamas's commitment to engaging in negotiations that meet the demands of the Palestinian people and called for increased humanitarian efforts in Gaza along with the lifting of the blockade.

Additionally, Al-Qanou noted that a delegation from the Hamas leadership has been in Cairo since Friday to explore ways to commence the second phase of negotiations and ensure Israeli compliance with the agreement.