That would depart it with 59 captives, 32 of whom are believed to be lifeless. Israel is anticipated to launch over 600 Palestinian prisoners, most of whom have been alleged to be freed final weekend. It had delayed the discharge to protest the remedy of the captives, who have been paraded earlier than crowds.
Israel is reportedly looking for an extension of the primary part to safe the liberty of extra captives. Negotiations over the second part will probably be much more contentious.
Section 2 was at all times the most important problem
The second part was at all times going to be essentially the most tough as a result of it might seemingly drive Israel to decide on between its two foremost warfare objectives — the secure return of the hostages and the annihilation of their captors.
Hamas, although weakened, stays in energy with no inside challengers. In trade for the remaining residing hostages — its foremost bargaining chip — it’s demanding an enduring ceasefire and the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces. A 3rd part would see the trade of stays and the beginning of Gaza’s daunting reconstruction course of, which is anticipated to take years and value billions of {dollars}.
Steve Witkoff, the Trump administration’s Mideast envoy, mentioned in an interview with CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday that he hoped to increase Section 1 to purchase time for negotiating the second part.
However Egypt, which has served as a key mediator, has refused to debate an extension of Section 1 till negotiations over Section 2 start, in line with two Egyptian officers who weren’t approved to transient reporters and spoke on situation of anonymity.
One official conversant in the negotiations mentioned the mere launch of Section 2 talks would maintain the truce intact, in line with the language of the deal. That might imply a continued halt in preventing and assist flowing into Gaza, although there could be no additional hostage releases past what has already been negotiated, he mentioned, talking on situation of anonymity to debate closed diplomatic contacts.
One of many Egyptian officers mentioned Egypt can also be demanding Israel full its withdrawal from the Philadelphi hall, on the Gaza aspect of the border with Egypt, earlier than shifting on to the following part. The settlement requires that withdrawal to start this weekend and be accomplished inside eight days.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not publicly acknowledged what he’ll do that weekend. He’s underneath heavy stress from hard-line coalition companions to renew the warfare in opposition to Hamas. However after photographs confirmed freed hostages returning dwelling in poor situation, he additionally faces heavy public stress to convey the remaining hostages dwelling.
Witkoff mentioned Netanyahu is dedicated to bringing again all of the hostages however has set a “red line” that Hamas can’t be concerned in governing Gaza after the warfare. Netanyahu has additionally dominated out any position in Gaza for the Western-backed Palestinian Authority, dominated by Hamas’ foremost rival, Fatah.
Hamas has mentioned it’s prepared at hand over management of Gaza to different Palestinians.
However the militant group, which doesn’t settle for Israel’s existence, would nonetheless be deeply entrenched in Gaza. And it says it gained’t lay down its arms until Israel ends its occupation of the West Financial institution, Gaza and east Jerusalem, lands captured within the 1967 Mideast warfare that Palestinians need for a future state.
Hamas has additionally dismissed Israel’s suggestion that its Gaza management go into exile.
Section 1 is unfinished and has additional embittered each side
The primary part of the ceasefire has but to be accomplished and has solely deepened the bitter distrust on each side.
Israelis have been shocked to see the captives — a few of whom have been emaciated — paraded earlier than crowds upon their launch, with some pressured to smile, wave, ship statements and, in a single case, kiss a masked militant on the pinnacle. After returning to Israel, hostages mentioned they have been held underneath harsh situations.
Final Thursday, Hamas displayed coffins holding what it mentioned have been the stays of Shiri Bibas and her two babies, who it mentioned have been killed in an Israeli airstrike. Israel mentioned a forensic investigation confirmed the 2 youngsters have been killed by their captors. The third physique turned out to be another person. Hamas then launched one other physique that was confirmed to be the mom.
On Saturday, Hamas filmed two hostages who have been pressured to look at the discharge of others, turning to a digicam and begging to be launched, in one more public spectacle that infuriated Israel. That appeared to have prompted Israel to postpone the discharge of the prisoners.
Hamas has accused Israel of violating the ceasefire by killing dozens of people that the military mentioned had approached its forces or entered unauthorized areas. It additionally accused Israel of dragging its ft on the entry of cell properties and gear for clearing rubble, which entered late final week, and of beating and abusing Palestinian prisoners previous to their launch.
Israel has additionally launched a serious army operation within the occupied West Financial institution that has displaced some 40,000 Palestinians, in line with the United Nations. Israel says it’s cracking down on militants who threaten its residents, whereas Palestinians see it as making an attempt to additional cement its decades-long rule.
Combined alerts from Trump
President Donald Trump took credit score for the ceasefire, which Witkoff helped push throughout the end line after a 12 months of negotiations led by the Biden administration, Egypt and Qatar.
However Trump has since despatched combined alerts concerning the deal.
Earlier this month, he set a agency deadline for Hamas to launch all of the hostages, warning that “all hell is going to break out” if the militants didn’t. However he mentioned it was finally as much as Israel, and the deadline got here and went.
Trump sowed additional confusion by proposing that Gaza’s inhabitants of some 2 million Palestinians be relocated to different international locations and for the US to take over the territory and develop it. Netanyahu welcomed the concept, which was universally rejected by Palestinians and Arab international locations, together with shut U.S. allies. Human rights teams mentioned it might violate worldwide legislation.