Israel and Hamas urged to continue negotiations to extend Gaza cease-fire
The release of the bodies of four Israeli hostages in exchange for more Palestinian prisoners has raised hopes that the multiphase agreement between the Palestinian militant group Hamas and Israel could hold for further negotiations.
The six-week first phase of the deal is set to end on March 1, but the cease-fire is stipulated to continue as long as the sides are in negotiations on the next phase.
Hamas handed over the bodies of four Israelis held in Gaza to the Red Cross early Feb 27 as part of an exchange for Israel releasing hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
The four returned were Shlomo Mantzur, 86, Itzik Elgarat, 69, Tsahi Idan, 50, and Ohad Yahalomi, 50.
They were kidnapped during the Hamas-led attack on Israeli communities on Oct 7, 2023.
Israeli authorities began releasing the prisoners from Israeli jails on Feb 27.
Palestinian sources told Xinhua that buses carrying the prisoners departed from Ofer Prison in the central West Bank, heading toward a reception center in the city of Beitunia.
The Hamas-linked Prisoners’ Information Office said that the seventh and eighth batches of prisoner releases were merged, bringing the total number released to 642.
This release is part of the first phase of the deal brokered by Egypt and Qatar, with support from the United States. Hamas described this release as the largest so far under the cease-fire arrangement.
“We are witnessing one of the achievements of the Palestinian people with the release of the seventh and eighth batches of prisoners, which is the largest so far within the cease-fire agreement arrangements,” Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem said in a press statement.
Qassem said the group had responded to mediators’ requests regarding new mechanisms for exchanging bodies, ensuring Israel’s commitment to the process.
However, Israel warned that if no further hostages were released by March 8, the cease-fire could end, highlighting the fragility of the truce.
At a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) meeting on Feb 26, rescued Israeli hostage Noa Argamani appealed to the international community to put an end to “this terrible tragedy”.
Without immediate action, Argamani said, many more innocent people will be killed, including her partner Avinatan Or, who was taken hostage with her.
Daniel Levy, a former Israeli peace negotiator and president of the US/Middle East Project policy institute, reiterated the importance of security for both Israelis and Palestinians.
He said the unlawful displacement of Palestinians must not be endorsed or encouraged by any state.
“We know attempts have been made in the past to remove Palestinians. Neither people will be ethnically cleansed nor submitted to genocidal violence,” said Levy.
Mustafa Yetim, an associate professor at Eskisehir Osmangazi University in Turkiye, told China Daily that the latest phase of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has been marked by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s assertive policies, strongly backed by the US’ aggressive and radical pro-Israel stance.
Yetim said Israel continues to pursue destabilizing and expansionist actions in Palestine, Lebanon and Syria, exacerbating divisions.
Moreover, he said, the US regional policy, narrowly focused on economic gains, has further amplified tensions.
“The already fragile negotiations between Israel and Hamas face significant challenges, and the risk of renewed conflict remains high,” said Yetim.
Sami al-Arian, the director of the Center for Islam and Global Affairs at Istanbul Zaim University, told Al Jazeera that throughout the first phase of the cease-fire deal, Netanyahu had tried to find a justification to “resume his genocidal war”.
However, the Israeli leader has not been given the “green light” by the US, prompting him to go through with the rest of the deal and allow the handover of the latest hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
Xinhua contributed to this report.
