Hamas Reports No Progress in Ceasefire Talks With Israel/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Efforts to negotiate the second phase of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire have stalled, with Hamas reporting no progress in talks and uncertainty over whether negotiations will resume on Saturday. The first phase, which has paused hostilities for weeks, is set to expire, but under the agreement, fighting should not resume while discussions continue. Mediators from Qatar, Egypt, and the U.S. are attempting to bridge gaps, but key disagreements remain over hostage exchanges, troop withdrawals, and governance of post-war Gaza.
Ceasefire Talks Stalled: Quick Looks
- Hamas reports no progress in talks on the ceasefire’s second phase, leaving the future of the truce uncertain.
- Phase one of the ceasefire is set to expire Saturday, but fighting is expected to remain paused as negotiations continue.
- Israel and Hamas are divided over extending the ceasefire, exchanging hostages, and withdrawing Israeli forces from Gaza.
- The war began on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas launched an attack on Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking 250 hostages.
- Since then, Israel’s military campaign has killed over 48,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials.
- Israel insists Hamas cannot govern Gaza after the war, while Hamas rejects calls for its leaders to leave the territory.
- The U.N. warns of a worsening humanitarian crisis if the ceasefire collapses, urging both sides to maintain the truce.
Hamas Reports No Progress in Ceasefire Talks With Israel
Deep Look: Ceasefire Negotiations Hit Roadblock as Phase One Nears End
Talks in Cairo Stagnate as Israel and Hamas Remain at Odds
The latest round of negotiations to extend the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has stalled, with Hamas reporting no progress and uncertainty surrounding the future of the truce.
Hamas official Basem Naim confirmed that Israeli negotiators left Cairo on Friday without an agreement, and mediators from Qatar, Egypt, and the United States have been unable to bring the two sides closer together.
“There has been no progress,” Naim told The Associated Press, casting doubt on whether discussions would resume on Saturday.
Ceasefire’s Second Phase Remains Unresolved
The first phase of the ceasefire, which halted hostilities in Gaza for weeks, is set to expire Saturday. However, under the agreement, fighting should not resume while negotiations are ongoing.
During phase one:
- 33 hostages, including eight bodies, were released in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.
- Hundreds of thousands of displaced Gazans returned home.
- Israeli forces withdrew to buffer zones.
The second phase was intended to focus on ending the war, securing further hostage releases, and withdrawing Israeli troops from Gaza. But disagreements remain over key elements, particularly:
- The timeline and conditions for Israeli troop withdrawals.
- The fate of Hamas in post-war Gaza.
- The return of remaining hostages, with Israel stating that at least 32 of the 59 still in Gaza are dead.
Hamas Rejects Israeli Proposal for Ceasefire Extension
A new Israeli proposal sought to extend phase one by 42 days—through the Muslim holy month of Ramadan—in exchange for more hostage releases.
Hamas rejected this plan, arguing it contradicts the original ceasefire agreement and that Israel must commit to fully withdrawing from Gaza under the terms of phase two.
“Hamas reaffirms its full commitment to implementing all terms of the agreement in all its stages and details,” the group said.
It also called on the international community to pressure Israel into moving forward with the second phase “without delay.”
Israel’s Position: Troops to Stay in Gaza ‘Indefinitely’
Under the ceasefire deal, Israel was expected to begin withdrawing troops from a strip of land in southern Gaza this weekend and complete the process within eight days.
However, Israeli officials announced Thursday that forces would remain in the Philadelphi Corridor—Gaza’s border with Egypt—indefinitely, citing security concerns.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also ruled out any role for Hamas in governing Gaza post-war, rejecting proposals that would see the militant group hand over control to other Palestinian factions.
Additionally, Netanyahu has dismissed calls for the Western-backed Palestinian Authority (PA), Hamas’ political rival, to take control.
“There will be no Hamas in Gaza, and there will be no PA,” Netanyahu’s office reiterated last week.
Hamas has rejected Israel’s demands, saying its leaders will not go into exile and that the group will remain part of Gaza’s future governance.
U.N. and Aid Groups Call for Ceasefire to Hold
As negotiations stall, international organizations warn of the devastating humanitarian consequences if fighting resumes.
The U.N. World Food Program (WFP) reported Saturday that it had reached 1 million Palestinians across Gaza with aid during phase one of the ceasefire.
“The ceasefire must hold,” WFP stated on social media. “There can be no going back.”
Meanwhile, Netanyahu’s office said that mediators are working on ways to increase humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza, though it remains unclear how much assistance is reaching those in need.
What Happens Next?
With no progress in Cairo, uncertainty looms over whether the ceasefire will extend into its second phase.
- If talks resume Saturday, mediators will attempt to push for a new agreement.
- If no progress is made, the risk of renewed fighting increases.
- Israel has signaled it will maintain military pressure until Hamas is fully removed from power.
“There is no alternative to a negotiated peace,” one senior diplomat said. “The world is watching what happens next.”
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