The first phase of the ceasefire that paused 15 months of brutal warfare between Israel and Hamas militants was set to end on Saturday – and it was unclear what would come next.
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The two sides were supposed to start negotiating a second phase weeks ago in which Hamas would release all the remaining hostages from its October 7, 2023, attack, which triggered the war, in exchange for more Palestinian prisoners, a lasting ceasefire and a full Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.
But those negotiations have not begun – there have only been preparatory talks – and the first phase has been jolted by one dispute after another.
Hamas has freed all 25 living hostages included in the first six-week phase ending on March 1 in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. It has also released the bodies of four captives and was expected to turn over four more, though it was unclear if that would happen Thursday as planned.
That leaves it with more than 60 captives, around half of whom were believed to be dead. Israel has meanwhile delayed the release of some 600 Palestinian prisoners who were supposed to be freed last weekend over the treatment of the captives, who were paraded before crowds.
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