‘Efforts of the Egyptian and Qatari mediators are ongoing to complete the implementation of the ceasefire agreement’
The initial phase of the Israel-Hamas truce brought relative calm to Gaza after more than 15 months of war devastated the territory.
Eyad Baba, AFP
CAIRO, Egypt (AFP) — Hamas said on Saturday that there were “positive” signs regarding the start of negotiations for the second phase of the fragile Gaza ceasefire, as a delegation from the Palestinian militant group met with mediators in Cairo.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said Israel would send a delegation to Doha, Qatar on Monday for truce talks.
Hamas spokesperson Abdel Latif Al-Qanoua said in a statement that “efforts of the Egyptian and Qatari mediators are ongoing to complete the implementation of the ceasefire agreement.”
“The indicators are positive regarding the start of negotiations for the second phase,” he added, without providing further details.
In a statement, Netanyahu’s office said that Israel had accepted an invitation from United States-backed mediators and would “send a delegation to Doha on Monday in an effort to advance the negotiations.”
The first phase of the Gaza ceasefire ended on 1 March after six weeks of relative calm that included exchanges of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners, though widespread hostilities have not resumed.
While Israel has said it wants to extend the first phase until mid-April, Hamas has insisted on a transition to the second phase, which should lead to a permanent end to the war.
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