As the first phase of the fragile Israel-Hamas truce approaches its Saturday deadline, uncertainty looms over what comes next. Efforts to secure a lasting ceasefire remain deadlocked, with negotiations struggling to gain traction.
The ceasefire, which began on January 19 after 15 months of intense conflict following Hamas’s deadly October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, led to the release of 25 living hostages and the return of eight bodies in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
The next phase, set to begin on Sunday, was expected to facilitate the release of more captives still held in Gaza. However, talks mediated by the U.S., Qatar, and Egypt have yet to yield a breakthrough.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has held emergency meetings with security officials, while delegations from Israel, Qatar, and the U.S. have gathered in Cairo. Meanwhile, Hamas is pushing for the second phase to commence immediately, warning against delays.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stressed the urgency of maintaining the ceasefire, stating, “The coming days are critical. The parties must spare no effort to avoid a breakdown of this deal.”
As the truce holds for now, Gazans prepare for the start of Ramadan amid devastation, with over 69% of buildings damaged or destroyed and food shortages affecting nearly the entire population.
With 58 hostages still in Gaza, including 34 whom the Israeli military believes are dead, time is running out for a clear resolution. Whether the truce holds or collapses remains to be seen in the coming hours.
