Israel and Hamas Get Ready to Progress Second-Phase Ceasefire Discussions in Gaza
Israel and Hamas are gearing up to move forward with the second phase of discussions regarding a ceasefire in Gaza.
TroibNews 
On Saturday, both Israel and Hamas indicated their readiness to advance to the next phase of ceasefire negotiations. This development comes as mediators work diligently to extend the delicate 42-day truce that commenced in January.
Hamas pointed to "positive indicators" for the initiation of second-phase ceasefire discussions but refrained from providing further details.
In response, Israel confirmed its preparedness for talks. "Israel has accepted the invitation of the mediators backed by the U.S. and will send a delegation to Doha on Monday in an effort to advance the negotiations," stated the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
A Hamas delegation is currently engaged in ceasefire discussions in Cairo with Egyptian mediators, supported by officials from Qatar, who are facilitating the negotiations. These talks aim to move forward to the next stage of the deal, which could potentially lead to a resolution of the ongoing conflict.
"We affirm our readiness to engage in the second-phase negotiations in a way that meets the demands of our people, and we call for intensified efforts to aid the Gaza Strip and lift the blockade on our suffering people," Hamas spokesman Abdel-Latif Al-Qanoua said in a statement.
Later, Hamas announced that its delegation had met with Hassan Mahmoud Rashad, head of Egypt's General Intelligence Agency, and expressed its approval for establishing a committee of "national and independent" figures to govern Gaza until elections can take place.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi previously noted that Cairo has collaborated with Palestinians to create an administrative committee of professional and independent Palestinian technocrats responsible for governing Gaza following the conclusion of the Israel-Gaza conflicts.
His comments were made during an Arab summit that endorsed Egypt's alternative reconstruction plan for Gaza, differing from U.S. President Donald Trump's "Middle East Riviera" vision.
Amid ongoing diplomatic efforts, an Israeli airstrike in Rafah, southern Gaza, resulted in the deaths of two Palestinians, according to medical sources.
The Israeli military reported that its aircraft targeted a drone that had crossed from Israel into southern Gaza and struck "several suspects" attempting to retrieve it, in what seemed to be an unsuccessful smuggling operation.
This airstrike followed a previous Israeli drone attack on Friday that killed two individuals in Gaza. The Israeli military indicated that the strike targeted a group of suspected militants in northern Gaza who were planting an explosive device near Israeli forces.
The ceasefire deal established in January includes provisions for the release of the remaining 59 hostages held by Hamas in a second phase, during which final arrangements for ending the hostilities will be negotiated.
The first phase of the ceasefire concluded last week. Following this, Israel has implemented a complete blockade on all goods entering the enclave, insisting that Hamas release the remaining hostages before proceeding with negotiations to conclude the Gaza conflict.
Sanya Singh for TROIB News
Hamas pointed to "positive indicators" for the initiation of second-phase ceasefire discussions but refrained from providing further details.
In response, Israel confirmed its preparedness for talks. "Israel has accepted the invitation of the mediators backed by the U.S. and will send a delegation to Doha on Monday in an effort to advance the negotiations," stated the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
A Hamas delegation is currently engaged in ceasefire discussions in Cairo with Egyptian mediators, supported by officials from Qatar, who are facilitating the negotiations. These talks aim to move forward to the next stage of the deal, which could potentially lead to a resolution of the ongoing conflict.
"We affirm our readiness to engage in the second-phase negotiations in a way that meets the demands of our people, and we call for intensified efforts to aid the Gaza Strip and lift the blockade on our suffering people," Hamas spokesman Abdel-Latif Al-Qanoua said in a statement.
Later, Hamas announced that its delegation had met with Hassan Mahmoud Rashad, head of Egypt's General Intelligence Agency, and expressed its approval for establishing a committee of "national and independent" figures to govern Gaza until elections can take place.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi previously noted that Cairo has collaborated with Palestinians to create an administrative committee of professional and independent Palestinian technocrats responsible for governing Gaza following the conclusion of the Israel-Gaza conflicts.
His comments were made during an Arab summit that endorsed Egypt's alternative reconstruction plan for Gaza, differing from U.S. President Donald Trump's "Middle East Riviera" vision.
Amid ongoing diplomatic efforts, an Israeli airstrike in Rafah, southern Gaza, resulted in the deaths of two Palestinians, according to medical sources.
The Israeli military reported that its aircraft targeted a drone that had crossed from Israel into southern Gaza and struck "several suspects" attempting to retrieve it, in what seemed to be an unsuccessful smuggling operation.
This airstrike followed a previous Israeli drone attack on Friday that killed two individuals in Gaza. The Israeli military indicated that the strike targeted a group of suspected militants in northern Gaza who were planting an explosive device near Israeli forces.
The ceasefire deal established in January includes provisions for the release of the remaining 59 hostages held by Hamas in a second phase, during which final arrangements for ending the hostilities will be negotiated.
The first phase of the ceasefire concluded last week. Following this, Israel has implemented a complete blockade on all goods entering the enclave, insisting that Hamas release the remaining hostages before proceeding with negotiations to conclude the Gaza conflict.
Sanya Singh for TROIB News
