Talks begin between Israel and Hamas on the next phase of Gaza ceasefire; Threat to the agreement averted

Talks between Israel and Hamas on the next phase of the ceasefire in Gaza have started on Thursday. Egypt has shared this information. The first phase of the agreement is to end on Saturday, before that the start of talks between the two sides has averted the threat looming over the agreement for the time being. Egypt’s government information service said in a statement that officials from Israel, Qatar and the US have started intensive discussions on the second phase of the ceasefire in Cairo.

According to the statement, the mediators are also discussing ways to increase the supply of humanitarian aid to Gaza. The purpose of the second round of talks is to negotiate an end to the war, which includes the return of all surviving hostages in Gaza and the withdrawal of all Israeli soldiers from the area. In the third phase, there will be discussions on handing over the bodies of the remaining dead hostages.

Israel refuses to remove troops from the corridor in Gaza

In fact, Israel will not withdraw from a strategic corridor in Gaza under the ceasefire. This decision could have led to a crisis with Hamas and key mediator Egypt over the ceasefire. However, much will depend on US President Donald Trump’s envoy for West Asia, Steve Witkoff, who may visit the region in the coming days.

59 hostages still in the custody of Hamas: Israel

According to Israel, 59 hostages are still in the custody of Hamas, 24 of whom may be alive. Hours before the talks began, an Israeli official said that his country would not withdraw troops from the strategic corridor in Gaza. Israel’s decision could pose challenges in the talks.

Bodies of all four hostages identified

Earlier, an Israeli group representing the families of those held hostage by Hamas said that the bodies of all four hostages returned early Thursday have been identified. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum said the bodies of Ohad Yahalomi, Itzhak Elgarat and Shlomo Mantzur, Sashi Idan have been identified.