HAMAS CLAIMS END OF FIRST CEASEFIRE PHASE – Group says initial truce terms met as talks stall over Israel’s next move.
Hamas announced today it has completed the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire deal with Israel, declaring it fulfilled all initial obligations.
The group said prisoner exchanges and temporary pauses in fighting were carried out “as agreed” under international mediation. Israeli officials, however, disputed Hamas’s claim, arguing that several terms remain unresolved.
Talks over the second phase — which would include a full Israeli troop withdrawal and release of remaining hostages — have reportedly stalled.
Hamas insists that any delay violates the framework negotiated through Qatar and Egypt. Israel, backed by the United States, is pushing instead for an extension of the current truce rather than immediate progression.
With both sides digging in, mediators warn the fragile calm in Gaza could collapse if the next phase isn’t agreed soon.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said that the drafting of the provisional constitution of the state of Palestine, along with the laws on elections and political parties, was nearing completion. He reaffirmed that presidential and parliamentary elections would be held once the conflict in Gaza comes to an end.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said on Monday that it had facilitated the return of the bodies of 300 Palestinians, 23 Israelis, and people of other nationalities since the truce began.
On Monday, Jared Kushner, former White House senior adviser and son-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump, met with Netanyahu in Israel to discuss the second phase of the ceasefire plan. The talks reportedly covered proposals to disarm Hamas, demilitarize Gaza, prevent Hamas from regaining control of Gaza, and possibly deploy a multinational peacekeeping force in the enclave.
Analysts say the first phase of the truce largely focused on humanitarian relief and short-term measures, while the second phase will involve complex political negotiations and long-term security arrangements — making it far more complex and challenging to achieve.
