Gaza Ceasefire Talks Enter Second Phase with Detailed Discussions in Egypt

Negotiators from Israel, the United States, and Qatar have begun extensive discussions in Cairo following Hamas’ agreement to enter the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire deal. The Egyptian mediation team confirmed on Thursday that all parties are engaging in detailed talks to ensure the implementation of agreed-upon terms.

The first phase of the three-stage ceasefire agreement is set to conclude on March 1. Under the deal, Hamas was to release 33 Israeli hostages in exchange for the freedom of hundreds of Palestinian detainees during the initial 42-day period. The second phase is expected to complete the prisoner exchange process and lead to the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump’s envoy reaffirmed that there is no place for Hamas in either Gaza or the West Bank. President Trump, responding to a journalist’s question at the White House, referred to Hamas as a “group of troublemakers.”

During his first official government meeting on Wednesday evening, Trump emphasized that the future of the second phase remains in Israel’s hands.