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Rabat – As the first phase of Gaza ceasefire comes to an end today, negotiations of the second stage seem to be stalled due to inconclusive outcomes.
Although “intensive talks” on Gaza ceasefire brought together officials from Israel, mediators from Qatar and the US in Cairo on Thursday, talks over a second stage of the ceasefire have not taken place so far.
The talks in Egypt were meant to focus on a permanent and complete withdrawal of Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) and the end of its assaults in Gaza.
But Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar suggested extension of the first stage of the ceasefire.
“We said we are ready to extend the framework [of phase one] in return for the release of more hostages. If it is possible, we’ll do that,” Saar said.
Hamas said on Saturday it rejects Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar’s proposal to extend the first phase.
The group’s spokesperson, Hazem Qassem, argued that Israel should bear responsibility for delaying actual negotiations over the second phase of the ceasefire.
“Israel wants to extend the first phase to secure the release of more captives” and potentially resume its genocide on the war-torn Gaza, Qassem argued.
The Palestinian group has previously confirmed “full commitment to implementing all the terms of the agreement in all its stages and details.”
What this means to Gazans
As far as there are no clues over the second phase, and since the first stage is coming to an end today, Palestinians fear that Israel should resume its genocidal assaults on the ground.
With nothing confirmed, there is no legal obligation that would halt the IOF from committing its raids in Gaza or enable the ceasefire to sustain.
A return to military action would also prevent humanitarian aid access to the Gaza enclave.
The six-week ceasefire has enabled a growing flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza, the World Food Programme (WFP) said, adding: “The ceasefire must hold. There can be no going back.”
Halting progress to the next round of the ceasefire deal is splintering hopes of Gazans to rejoin their peace and rebuild the devastated Gaza.
