Israel To Start Negotiating Phase Two Of Gaza's Ceasefire Agreement

Gaza/DOK UNRWA Refugees

JAKARTA - Israel will start indirect negotiations with the Palestinian militant group Hamas over the second phase of the ceasefire agreement in Gaza this week and demand a complete demilitarization in the enclave.

Negotiations for the second phase of the deal were supposed to start on February 2, but Qatar, together with Egypt and the United States, mediated between the two sides, saying the negotiations had not been officially carried out.

"It will happen this week," said Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar on Tuesday, February 18 as reported by Reuters.

Israel has given mixed signals in recent weeks regarding its involvement in the next phase of negotiations from a three-phase ceasefire, which took effect on January 19 with the aim of ending the Gaza war permanently.

The ceasefire deal, which includes the return of 33 Israeli hostages in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and detainees, remains as planned despite a series of setbacks and charges of abuse threatening to thwart the treaty.

However, negotiations regarding the second phase are expected to be difficult because it includes issues such as the postwar government in Gaza, where the big gap between the two sides seems to still exist.

"We will not accept the continued presence of Hamas or other terrorist organizations in Gaza," Saar said.

But he said if the negotiations were constructive, Israel would remain involved and possibly extend the first phase of the ceasefire, which should last for six weeks.

"If we see any constructive dialogue with the possibility of reaching an agreement (then) we will extend this period of time," Saar said.

So far, 19 Israeli hostages have been returned in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and prisoners.

The other 14 hostages, six of whom are believed to be still alive, are scheduled to be repatriated in the first phase.

Israel is trying to guarantee the release of six hostages who are still alive on Saturday. The other four hostages are expected to be handed over on Thursday.

The hostages were held hostage in a cross-border attack led by Hamas on October 7, 2023, which killed about 1,200 people in southern Israel, according to Israeli tallies.

Israel's retaliatory attacks on Gaza have killed more than 48,000 Palestinians, according to Palestinian health officials, destroyed most of the region, and displaced hundreds of thousands of people.

An Israeli official said Israel would also begin allowing the entry of a car house for Gazans forced to take cover from the winter weather among the ruins left by Israeli bombings for 15 months.

Hamas accused Israel of delaying the handover of the bodies of Gazans and threatened to delay the release of hostages until the matter was resolved.

The fragile ceasefire agreement was also overshadowed by US President Donald Trump's call for Palestinians to be removed and for Gaza to be taken over as a territorial waters under US control.

The plan has been rejected by Palestinian groups, Arab countries and Washington allies in the West who say it is tantamount to ethnic cleansing.

Israeli leaders argue that Gazans wishing to leave the destroyed enclave should be allowed to do so.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Monday it would form a new unit in its ministry dedicated to facilitating the exit of Gazans looking to move to third countries, after reviewing the initial plans for it.