Fresh negotiations in Cairo today brought together Hamas representatives, a Gaza-linked figure from the so-called “Peace Council,” and international mediators, as efforts continued to push forward the ceasefire arrangement, according to a senior Arab official cited by Asharq Al-Awsat.
During the discussions, Hamas made clear that it will not move on to any second phase of the agreement until all elements of the initial stage are fully carried out. That includes postponing any conversation about disarmament of Hamas and other Palestinian Arab terror groups until those first commitments are met.
The group is also pressing for firm assurances regarding implementation and is calling on mediators to step in and resolve lingering disputes, amid fears that the ongoing impasse could trigger a renewed Israeli military campaign in Gaza aimed at dismantling its weapons infrastructure.
Palestinian Arab political analyst Hossam al-Dajani argued that any meaningful progress must be tied to a broader political framework addressing the wider Palestinian issue, along with international protections for Judea and Samaria, Jerusalem, and Gaza, citing what he described as “daily Israeli violations.”
He added, “It is impossible to agree to the start of the second stage without implementing the first stage, and it is also unacceptable to accept the ‘victory image’ that Netanyahu seeks, which is expressed in the surrender of resistance weapons in exchange only for Gaza’s reconstruction, as this is a proposal that is unacceptable to the Palestinian side.”
Under the terms of the first phase, Israeli forces are expected to pull back to designated positions. However, repeated violations of the ceasefire by Hamas have made such a withdrawal unworkable for now. Israeli officials maintain that removing Hamas’ weapons capabilities would prevent further breaches and allow for meaningful rebuilding efforts in Gaza to proceed.