No Progress in Ceasefire Negotiations Yet
Netanyahu Shifts Stance Following Trump’s Return
Witkoff Heads to the Middle East for Talks
The ceasefire in the Gaza Strip war between Israel and the Palestinian armed faction Hamas is set to expire this weekend, and its extension remains uncertain, according to the US CNN broadcast on the 25th (local time).
Both sides agreed earlier this month to negotiate a permanent end to the war, but after three weeks, talks for the ceasefire have yet to even begin. The first phase of the ceasefire, which took effect on January 19, was set to last six weeks (42 days), and without an additional extension agreement, the ceasefire will expire in early March.
Foreign media have pointed to a change in attitude by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a reason for the stalled negotiations. CNN reported that Netanyahu is encouraged by the return of US President Donald Trump and pressure from far-right cabinet members to resume the war.
Netanyahu visited the US earlier this month to meet President Trump but decided not to send a negotiation team to Qatar or Egypt, which are mediating the ceasefire talks. This reflects Netanyahu’s stance on extending the ceasefire. He also appointed Ron Dermer, the Minister for Strategic Affairs known to be close to the Trump administration, to the position of Israel’s security chief, who previously led ceasefire negotiations.
There was even a crisis threatening to break the ceasefire when Israel refused for a time to exchange Palestinian prisoners as agreed. The ceasefire agreement stipulated that during the first six weeks of phase one, Israel would release 1,904 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the release of 33 hostages held by Hamas. Accordingly, on the 22nd, Hamas handed over six Israeli hostages and four bodies to Israel, but Israel unilaterally postponed the release of 620 Palestinian prisoners scheduled for the same day. The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office cited Hamas’s alleged humiliation and use of the hostages for propaganda events before their release as the reason.
Amid the stalled ceasefire extension talks, Netanyahu provoked Hamas by stating that Israel is ready to resume war at any time. On the 23rd, he said, "(Israel) is prepared to resume fierce fighting at any moment," adding that operational plans are already in place. He further stated, "Hamas will not govern Gaza. Gaza will be demilitarized, and Gaza’s combat forces will be dismantled."
With the possibility of extending the ceasefire shrouded in uncertainty, Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff is scheduled to travel to the Middle East again this week. According to AFP, he said at an event hosted by the American Jewish Committee (AJC) on the 25th that "significant progress is being made," and that the Israeli negotiation team is heading to the location where talks will take place.
Witkoff said the negotiations will be held in Doha, Qatar, or Cairo, Egypt, and that the focus of this round of talks is to "officially start phase two of the ceasefire and secure additional hostage releases." He added that "if the negotiations proceed well," he might join the talks on March 2.
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