Israel and Hamas to begin talks on next phase of Gaza ceasefire

JERUSALEM/CAIRO. Israel and Hamas are set to begin indirect negotiations this week regarding the next phase of the Gaza ceasefire deal, officials confirmed on Tuesday. The talks come as Hamas announced it would return more hostages, including the bodies of two children.

Khalil al-Hayya, a senior Hamas leader in Gaza, stated that the bodies of four hostages, including those from the Bibas family, would be returned on Thursday, followed by the release of six living hostages on Saturday.

The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that a deal had been reached in Cairo, securing the release of six living hostages on Saturday, four deceased hostages on Thursday, and four additional bodies next week. However, no names were disclosed.

An Israeli official stated that the deceased hostages would be identified in Israel before their names were made public.

The negotiations for the second phase of the ceasefire were initially planned for February 4. However, Qatar—along with Egypt and the United States, which are mediating the talks—indicated that formal discussions had not yet commenced.

“It will happen this week,” Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar confirmed during a press conference in Jerusalem.

In recent weeks, Israel has sent mixed signals regarding its participation in talks over the next stage of the ceasefire, which was implemented on January 19 with the stated goal of bringing a permanent end to the Gaza conflict.

Among the most high-profile Israeli hostages taken by Hamas during the October 7, 2023, attack is the Bibas family. Kfir Bibas, who was less than a year old at the time of the abduction, and his brother Ariel, who was four, were seized alongside their parents. Their father, Yarden Bibas, was released earlier this month, but their mother, Shiri, remains unaccounted for.

In late 2023, Hamas claimed that Israeli bombardments had killed Shiri and the two children. However, Israel has neither confirmed their deaths nor ruled out the possibility that they remain alive.

Following Hamas’ latest announcement, the Bibas family issued a statement saying they were “in turmoil.” “Until we receive definitive confirmation, our journey is not over,” they said.

The identity of the fourth deceased hostage remains undisclosed, but the families of the six living hostages set for release on Saturday have been informed. These include Eliyah Cohen, 27, Tal Shoham, 40, Omer Shem Tov, 22, and Omer Wenkert, 23—who were all taken hostage on October 7. Two others, Hisham Al-Sayed, 36, and Avera Mengistu, 39, had crossed into Gaza independently around a decade ago and have been held there since.

The first phase of the ceasefire deal included a 42-day truce and the return of 33 Israeli hostages in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and detainees. Despite multiple challenges, the deal has held so far.

The upcoming negotiations aim to secure the release of the remaining 64 hostages but are expected to be difficult, as discussions will also involve the future governance of post-war Gaza—an area where Israel and Hamas hold deeply opposing views.

“We will not accept the continued presence of Hamas or any other terrorist organization in Gaza,” Saar stated. However, he also noted that Israel would stay engaged in talks if they proved constructive, potentially extending the ceasefire. “If we will see there is a constructive dialogue with a possible horizon of getting to an agreement, we will make this time frame work longer.”

So far, 19 Israeli hostages have been returned in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. If Hamas follows through on its latest announcement, six more living hostages and four bodies will be returned this week, leaving only four remaining hostages—who, according to Hamas, are all deceased.

The October 7 Hamas-led cross-border attack resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths in southern Israel, according to Israeli authorities. In response, Israel launched an extensive military operation in Gaza, which Palestinian health officials report has resulted in over 48,000 deaths. The war has also left much of the enclave in ruins and displaced hundreds of thousands of residents.

An Israeli official stated that Israel would begin allowing the entry of mobile homes for displaced Gazans facing harsh winter conditions. Hamas has accused Israel of delaying the delivery of these shelters and previously threatened to postpone hostage releases unless the issue was resolved.

Meanwhile, the ceasefire negotiations have been overshadowed by a controversial proposal from former U.S. President Donald Trump, who suggested relocating Palestinians and transforming Gaza into a waterfront development under U.S. control. The plan has been widely rejected by Palestinian groups, Arab states, and Washington’s Western allies, who view it as “tantamount to ethnic cleansing.”

In response, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced on Monday that he would establish a new unit within his ministry to facilitate the voluntary relocation of Gaza residents to third countries.

As the region braces for another round of high-stakes negotiations, the fate of the remaining hostages and the long-term future of Gaza remain uncertain.