Israel-Hamas truce ends: Netanyahu convenes government
Photo: Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel (Getty Images)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has decided to hold consultations with security chiefs and ministers following the expiration of the ceasefire with Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip. Efforts to extend the truce were unsuccessful, according to Reuters.
According to two Israeli officials speaking to Western media, a delegation from Israel recently returned from Cairo, Egypt, without reaching an agreement to extend the ceasefire in Gaza.
Officials told Reuters that Egyptian and Qatari mediators requested more time over the next few days to resolve the "impasse" regarding the ceasefire, which is set to expire on Saturday.
A Hamas representative told reporters that Israel had sought to extend the 42-day truce, agreed upon as the first phase of a ceasefire deal, until the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, which begins this weekend.
Hamas also stated that the organization aims to move on to talks about the second phase, which would pave the way for a final end to the war.
Gaza ceasefire agreement and release of hostages and prisoners
The agreement reached in January paused 15 months of fighting in the Gaza Strip. It also allowed for the exchange of 33 Israeli hostages and five Thais for approximately 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees.
The deal was expected to lead to further negotiations on the continuation of the ceasefire.
Challenges in extending the ceasefire
Israeli officials had previously stated that Jerusalem was prepared to resume fighting in Gaza if all remaining hostages were not returned.
However, Israel and Hamas remain far apart in key issues in such talks, with each side accusing the other of violating the ceasefire. This casts doubt on the second phase of the deal, which involves the release of additional hostages and prisoners, as well as steps toward the final end of the war, according to Reuters.
The report also notes that there are currently no signs of agreement between Israelis and Palestinians, nor between Western and Arab governments, regarding the future of the Gaza Strip. This complicates efforts to reach a long-term resolution.
It was also reported on February 26 by US media that Hamas is strengthening its positions ahead of a possible resumption of fighting with Israel.
Additionally, it was mentioned that Israel recently accused Hamas of violating the hostage exchange agreement.
