Gaza's future remains elusive as ceasefire talks stagnate

GAZA, Palestine

As the first phase of the Gaza peace deal ended on Saturday and discussions on the second phase have yet to gain momentum, concerns are mounting that the hard-earned and fragile peace could be shattered again, impacting over 2 million people in the besieged coastal enclave.

The future for Gazans remains uncertain, as various proposals have emerged over post-war governance and rebuilding yet none has gained broad acceptance. Despite the instability, many residents have expressed their determination to stay. However, they will continue to endure displacement, destruction and uncertainty.

An Israeli delegation proposed in Cairo extending the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire by 42 days, an informed Egyptian security source told Xinhua on Friday.

However, negotiations have yet to address the second phase of the deal, which seeks to end the war in Gaza and secure Israel's complete withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, the source added.

In response, Hamas said Saturday that the Israeli proposal of extending the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement is "unacceptable," adding that the mediators and guarantor countries are required to oblige the occupation to abide by the agreement in its various stages.

Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem said that there were still no negotiations with Hamas regarding the second phase of the agreement, accusing Israel of "evading the commitment to end the war and withdraw completely from Gaza."

On early Sunday, the Israeli Prime Minister's Office said in a statement that Israel has accepted the U.S. proposal for a temporary ceasefire with Hamas in Gaza for the Ramadan and Passover holidays.

The Muslim holy month of Ramadan began on Friday and will last until March 30, while the Jewish Passover week will be marked from April 12 to 20.

The statement also stressed that Israel may return to fighting if it believes that the negotiations are ineffective, as the first 42-day phase of the ceasefire-hostages agreement expired on Saturday.

The Israeli think tank Institute for National Security Studies commented, "Israel has not met the war objectives set by the political echelon: It did not fully destroy Hamas's military and governmental capabilities, and the release of the hostages until now has been only partial."

The Washington Institute for Near East Policy said the Israeli prime minister sees phase one of the ceasefire as beneficial due to the gradual release of hostages, but views phase two as a trap that would force Israel's full withdrawal from Gaza, limiting its ability to target Hamas.

Analysts told Xinhua that Netanyahu is also under pressure from far-right Cabinet members, who support only the first phase and demand guarantees that Gaza will no longer threaten Israel, or they will leave the coalition. Their opposition has made the government hesitant to advance negotiations.