Doha (TDI): Qatar’s prime minister on Sunday called on Israel and Hamas to immediately begin negotiating phase two of the Gaza ceasefire, adding that there is no clear plan for when talks will start.
“We demand (Hamas and Israel) to engage immediately as stipulated in the deal,” Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said at a media conference held jointly with Turkiye’s foreign minister in Doha on Sunday.
According to the ceasefire deal, talks on implementing the second phase of the agreement should begin before the 16th day of phase one of the ceasefire, which is Monday.
Israel and Hamas last month reached a complex three-phase deal that has halted the fighting in Gaza.
Hamas has so far released eighteen hostages in exchange for Israel releasing hundreds of Palestinians held in Israeli jails.
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There are more than seventy hostages still held in Gaza.
The second stage of the deal is likely to include Hamas releasing all remaining hostages held in Gaza, a permanent end to hostilities and the complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from the enclave.
“There is nothing yet clear about where the delegations will come and when it’s going to take place,” Sheikh Mohammed said.
Mediators have engaged with Hamas and Israel over the phone and Doha has set an agenda for the next phase of talks, he said.
“We hope that we begin to see some movement in the coming days. It’s critical that we get things rolling from now in order to get to a deal before day 42.”
Netanyahu to Start Phase Two Talks in Washington
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said he would start talks on phase two of the deal on Monday in Washington, when he is set to meet US President Donald Trump’s Middle East Envoy, Steve Witkoff.
During his meeting with Witkoff, Netanyahu will discuss Israel’s positions in respect to the deal, the prime minister’s office said.
Also Read: 81 Palestinians Killed in Gaza Despite Ceasefire Deal
Witkoff will then speak with officials from Egypt and Qatar, who have mediated between Israel and Hamas over the past fifteen months with backing from Washington.
