Hamas officials have announced the commencement of discussions with international mediators regarding the second phase of the ceasefire in Gaza. The ceasefire, which began last month, marked the first phase of negotiations aimed at ending the 15-month war. The initial phase included halting hostilities, increasing humanitarian aid access to Gaza, and exchanging Palestinian prisoners for Israeli hostages taken during the conflict-triggering attack on Oct. 7, 2023.
However, unresolved issues such as further hostage/prisoner releases, extending the truce indefinitely, and determining Gaza's governance post-conflict were left for subsequent negotiations. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to Washington for talks with U.S. President Donald Trump coincided with these developments. Egypt, Qatar, and the United States are facilitating indirect talks between Israel and Hamas.
