Israel to send delegation for Gaza ceasefire talks in Qatar

Israel has announced that it will send a delegation to Doha to discuss an extension of the fragile ceasefire with Hamas. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed on Saturday night that the delegation would arrive in the Qatari capital on Monday to push forward negotiations.

The decision follows a meeting between Hamas representatives and Egyptian officials in Cairo, where discussions focused on the second phase of the ceasefire deal. Hamas stressed the importance of upholding all terms of the agreement, calling for immediate talks, the reopening of border crossings, and the unrestricted entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza.

Hamas spokesperson Abdel Latif al-Qanoua expressed optimism about the negotiations, stating that positive signs indicate the second phase could begin soon. The first phase, which lasted until March 1, saw the exchange of 25 Israeli captives for 1,800 Palestinian detainees. While Israel seeks to extend this phase until mid-April, it has refused to move to the second stage, which would require a full military withdrawal from Gaza. Hamas, however, insists that both sides must honor the agreed-upon transition to phase two.

Protests in Tel Aviv

In Israel, families of captives still held in Gaza have urged the government to move forward with the agreement to prevent further conflict. During a demonstration in Tel Aviv, Einav Zangauker, whose son Matan remains in captivity, accused Netanyahu of using the captives as political leverage. She warned that war could resume within a week and called for a deal that ensures the return of all captives at once.

Al Jazeera's correspondent in Jordan, Hamdah Salhut, reported that Netanyahu is under increasing pressure from families who accuse him of prolonging the war for personal and political reasons. Meanwhile, Israel continues its military operations in Gaza, killing at least three Palestinians on Saturday.

The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has worsened due to the aid blockade, particularly during the holy month of Ramadan. Since Friday night, Israeli forces have intensified their attacks on Rafah, targeting residential areas. The Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that neighborhoods such as al-Jnaina, ash-Shawka, and Tal as-Sultan were among those hit.

According to Gaza’s Ministry of Health, Israeli attacks since October 7, 2023, have resulted in at least 48,453 Palestinian deaths and 111,860 injuries.