Cairo Talks Seek to Extend Gaza Ceasefire, Negotiate End to War

High-stakes negotiations have commenced in Cairo aimed at securing the second phase of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire in Gaza, as the initial phase draws to a close on Saturday, Al Jazeera reports.

Israeli officials have joined Qatari and US mediators in “intensive discussions,” according to Egypt’s state information service. Sources suggest that US President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, may also participate in the talks.

The primary goal of this next phase is to negotiate a comprehensive resolution to the ongoing conflict. Key objectives include the unconditional release of all remaining living captives held in Gaza, coupled with a complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from the territory.

Israel reports that 59 captives remain in Gaza, with 24 believed to be alive. However, prospects for a swift agreement remain uncertain. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar stated that the Israeli delegation in Cairo would need to “see whether we have common ground to negotiate.”

“We said we are ready to extend the framework [of phase one] in return for the release of more hostages,” Sa’ar told a news conference Thursday. “If it is possible, we’ll do that.”

The complexity of the situation is underscored by the declared war objectives of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who, with the support of US President Donald Trump, has vowed to eliminate Hamas entirely. Reconciling these objectives with the demands of the ceasefire negotiations remains a significant challenge.

These negotiations follow a prisoner exchange overnight on Thursday, in which Hamas handed over the remains of four captives in return for the release of over 600 Palestinian prisoners, marking the final scheduled swap of the ceasefire’s initial phase. Israel had temporarily delayed the release of 46 of these prisoners, all women and children, due to delays in verifying the identities of the recovered remains.

Adding to the tension, Israeli officials have indicated that they will not fully adhere to the agreed-upon terms of the ceasefire, specifically regarding the withdrawal from the Philadelphi Corridor, a strip of land bordering Egypt. While the Israeli military is scheduled to begin pulling out of the corridor on Saturday and complete the withdrawal within eight days, sources indicate that the withdrawal may not be completed.