Egypt Daily News – The Israeli radio reported today, Friday, that the United States has set a goal for Israel and Hamas to reach an agreement within the next two weeks in the second phase of negotiations on a prisoner exchange deal and a ceasefire.
It added that Israel intends to resume fighting despite progress in the negotiations. Israel is also demanding the release of 22 hostages held by Hamas alive as part of the second phase of the deal, according to Al Jazeera Net.
Additionally it stated that Steve Witkoff, the U.S. envoy to the Middle East, held talks with Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani regarding the agreement and its second phase.
Hamas accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday of “stalling” in starting negotiations on the second phase. Meanwhile, Witkoff said that this phase of the deal is more difficult, but with hard work, there is an opportunity for success.
On January 19, the first phase of the ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement began, consisting of three phases, each lasting 42 days, with negotiations required before moving on to the next phase. Israel has been delaying the start of the second phase of negotiations, which was supposed to begin on February 3, despite the first phase including the transfer of 33 Israeli captives, both alive and deceased.
So far, Israel has received 19 live hostages and 4 bodies. On Saturday, it is expected to receive 6 more alive, in addition to 4 more bodies next week, marking the end of the first phase of the agreement.
In return, Israel has released 1,135 Palestinian prisoners, including dozens sentenced to life imprisonment. It is expected to release another 602 prisoners within the next two weeks, bringing the total number of released Palestinian prisoners under the first phase to 1,737.
