Tel Aviv: Israel announced on Saturday that it plans to send a delegation to Qatar to engage in negotiations for a ceasefire and prisoner swap deal in the Gaza Strip. This move comes at a time when the second phase of negotiations has yet to commence. The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office released a statement confirming that the delegation will travel to Doha on Monday to further discussions on the three-phase agreement, which has already seen the completion of its first phase.
According to Anadolu Agency, the decision to dispatch the delegation follows an invitation from mediators, with the United States playing a primary role. The effort aims to advance the peace process amidst complexities surrounding the ongoing negotiations.
Israeli state television, Kan, has reported, citing an Israeli source, that the United States has proposed a plan to extend the ceasefire by an additional two months. The proposal involves the release of 10 live prisoners held by Hamas in exchange for the ceasefire extension. The negotiations are reportedly being conducted between the US and Hamas, with the assistance of Qatari and Egyptian mediators, yet notably excluding direct Israeli involvement.
The original ceasefire and prisoner swap agreement between Hamas and Israel took effect on January 19. Under this deal, significant steps were taken, including the opening of the Netzarim Corridor in the Gaza Strip on January 27 to facilitate Palestinian movement. Additionally, the Israeli army withdrew from the corridor on February 9. Essential humanitarian measures were also undertaken, such as the opening of the Rafah Border Gate between Gaza and Egypt on February 1 to allow the evacuation of the sick and injured, following an eight-month occupation by the Israeli army.
In the first phase of the agreement, over 1,700 Palestinian inmates were released from Israeli prisons. Concurrently, Israel received 33 prisoners from Gaza, comprising 25 alive and eight deceased. Moreover, the release also included five Thai prisoners who were held in Gaza.
Despite the initial progress, the anticipated second phase of negotiations has not commenced. It was meant to start on the 16th day of the 42-day first phase, February 3. However, the Tel Aviv administration halted the initiation of these discussions. After the conclusion of the first phase on March 1, US President Donald Trump’s Middle East Special Representative, Steve Witkoff, proposed extending the first phase. Although Israel accepted the proposal, Hamas rejected it, leading to Israel’s announcement of a suspension of all humanitarian aid materials into Gaza.