Hamas reports no progress in talks with Israel on ceasefire’s second phase

Hamas-Israel ceasefire talks stall, uncertainty looms over phase two negotiations, potential extension, and humanitarian aid delivery.

The latest round of talks on the second phase of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has made “no progress,” and it’s unclear whether they will resume on Saturday (March 1, 2025), a senior Hamas official said.

Phase one expires on Saturday (March 1, 2025), but under the deal’s terms, fighting should not resume while negotiations are underway on phase two, which could end the war in Gaza, see Israeli troops withdraw and see the remaining living hostages returned home. According to Israel, 32 of the 59 hostages still in Gaza are dead.

The first phase, which paused 15 months of fighting in Gaza, saw the release of 33 hostages, including eight bodies, in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. Hundreds of thousands of people returned home to northern Gaza, aid into the territory increased and Israeli forces withdrew to buffer zones.

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Officials from Israel, Qatar, Egypt and the United States have been involved in negotiations on the second phase in Cairo. Hamas did not attend, but its position has been represented through Egyptian and Qatari mediators.

Basem Naim, a member of Hamas’ political bureau, told The Associated Press there had been “no progress” before Israeli negotiators returned home on Friday (February 28, 2025).

It was unclear whether those mediators would return to Cairo to resume talks Saturday (March 1, 2025) as expected. Mr. Naim said he had “no idea” when negotiations might resume.