Israel strikes Gaza ahead of new talks on ceasefire
Hamas for permanent truce and reopening of borders
Published: 06:03 PM,Mar 09,2025 | EDITED : 10:03 PM,Mar 09,2025
A Palestinian boy stands next to a fence as he and others gather to receive bread from a bakery, in Khan Younis, in Gaza, on Sunday. - Reuters
Israel carried out an air strike in northern Gaza on Sunday, rattling an already fragile ceasefire as it prepared for fresh talks in Doha on the future of its truce with Hamas.
Despite the end of the truce’s initial phase a week ago, both sides have refrained from returning to all-out war, though there have been sporadic episodes of violence. Sunday’s air strike was the latest of daily strikes reported by Israel since last Thursday.
Hamas has repeatedly called for an immediate start to negotiations on the ceasefire’s second phase, which was negotiated by the United States, Qatar and Egypt aiming to bring a permanent end to the war. Israel says it prefers an extension of phase one until mid-April, and cut off aid to Gaza over the impasse.
Hamas representatives met mediators in Cairo last week, emphasising the urgent need to resume humanitarian aid deliveries to the territory “without restrictions or conditions”, a Hamas statement said.
“We call on mediators in Egypt and Qatar, as well as the guarantors in the US administration, to ensure that the occupation complies with the agreement... and proceeds with the second phase according to the agreed-upon terms,” Hamas spokesman, Hazem Qassem, said.
Hamas’s key demands for the second phase include a captive-prisoner exchange, a complete withdrawal of Israel from Gaza, a permanent ceasefire, reopening of border crossings and lifting of the Israeli blockade, he said.
Former United States president Joe Biden had also outlined a second phase involving the release of remaining living captives, the withdrawal of all Israeli forces left in Gaza, and establishment of a permanent ceasefire.
Following talks with mediators, another Hamas spokesman, Abdel Latif al Qanoua, said indicators were so far “positive”.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said it would send delegates to Doha on Monday, and Israeli media reported the security cabinet would discuss the matter later on Sunday.
The truce largely halted more than 15 months of fighting in Gaza, where virtually the entire population was displaced by Israel’s relentless military campaign in response to October 7, 2023, attack.
The six-week first phase led to the exchange of 25 living Israeli captives and eight bodies for the release of about 1,800 Palestinian prisoners held in Israel.
It also allowed much-needed food, shelter and medical assistance to re-enter Gaza.
Since Israel subsequently cut off the aid flow, United Nations rights experts accused the government of “weaponising starvation”. — AFP
Despite the end of the truce’s initial phase a week ago, both sides have refrained from returning to all-out war, though there have been sporadic episodes of violence. Sunday’s air strike was the latest of daily strikes reported by Israel since last Thursday.
Hamas has repeatedly called for an immediate start to negotiations on the ceasefire’s second phase, which was negotiated by the United States, Qatar and Egypt aiming to bring a permanent end to the war. Israel says it prefers an extension of phase one until mid-April, and cut off aid to Gaza over the impasse.
Hamas representatives met mediators in Cairo last week, emphasising the urgent need to resume humanitarian aid deliveries to the territory “without restrictions or conditions”, a Hamas statement said.
“We call on mediators in Egypt and Qatar, as well as the guarantors in the US administration, to ensure that the occupation complies with the agreement... and proceeds with the second phase according to the agreed-upon terms,” Hamas spokesman, Hazem Qassem, said.
Hamas’s key demands for the second phase include a captive-prisoner exchange, a complete withdrawal of Israel from Gaza, a permanent ceasefire, reopening of border crossings and lifting of the Israeli blockade, he said.
Former United States president Joe Biden had also outlined a second phase involving the release of remaining living captives, the withdrawal of all Israeli forces left in Gaza, and establishment of a permanent ceasefire.
Following talks with mediators, another Hamas spokesman, Abdel Latif al Qanoua, said indicators were so far “positive”.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said it would send delegates to Doha on Monday, and Israeli media reported the security cabinet would discuss the matter later on Sunday.
The truce largely halted more than 15 months of fighting in Gaza, where virtually the entire population was displaced by Israel’s relentless military campaign in response to October 7, 2023, attack.
The six-week first phase led to the exchange of 25 living Israeli captives and eight bodies for the release of about 1,800 Palestinian prisoners held in Israel.
It also allowed much-needed food, shelter and medical assistance to re-enter Gaza.
Since Israel subsequently cut off the aid flow, United Nations rights experts accused the government of “weaponising starvation”. — AFP