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Middle East conflict

Gaza ceasefire deal in danger of collapse, Hamas official says

Agence France Presse points out that the parties have not yet begun talks on the second phase of the ceasefire deal, which were expected to kick off on February 3

DOHA, February 8. /TASS/. The Israel-Hamas agreement on a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip is in danger of collapse, Hamas political bureau member Basem Naim told Agence France Presse.

According to him, the deal "is in danger" and "may collapse."

The news agency points out that the parties have not yet begun talks on the second phase of the ceasefire deal, which were expected to kick off on February 3.

Naim accused Israel of delaying the implementation of its obligations under the deal. However, the Hamas official pointed out that the movement’s leadership "is still ready" to hold indirect talks with Israel in Qatar to discuss the details of the second phase of the deal.

On January 15, Egypt, Qatar and the US announced that they had brokered an agreement between Israel and Hamas to release the hostages held in Gaza and declare a ceasefire in the enclave. The truce took effect on January 19. During the initial 42-day phase, Hamas is expected to release 33 Israeli hostages in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails.

The second phase of the ceasefire agreement is expected to involve the release of the remaining hostages and a full withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza. The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on February 1 that he had reached an agreement with US President Donald Trump’s Special Envoy for the Middle East Steven Witkoff to begin talks on the second stage of the deal during his visit to Washington on February 3. Netanyahu’s office announced later that Israel would send a delegation to Qatar before the end of the week.

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Telegram’s active users above one billion monthly — Durov

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Top stories from the Russian press on Tuesday, March 18th

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IN BRIEF: What is known about prisoner exchange between Russia, Ukraine

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Western sanctions on Russia may hinder Ukraine peace process, Hungary warns

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Trump says his phone calls with Putin, Zelensky were 'very good'

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Western brands "testing waters" without returning so far — Medvedev

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Several EU diplomats criticize top diplomat's plan on Ukraine aid — media

It is noted that the plan will not be approved at the European Council summit set to take place in Brussels on March 20

Trump says United States should build relations with Russia — Breitbart News

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Hungarian minister says Ukraine should be `a buffer zone' between EU, Russia — FT

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By attacking Russian energy facility, Kiev wants to disrupt peace initiatives — diplomat

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Seoul reports incursion of Russian aircraft into its air defense identification zone

The South Korean Defense Ministry called in Russian military attache Nikolay Marchenko to protest the incident

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Russian Battlegroup East eliminates 5 Ukrainian drone control centers

During the day, the enemy lost a MaxxPro armored combat vehicle

Kiev can't be trusted to honor agreements — MP

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Trump tells Zelensky about results of his conversation with Putin

The telephone call "lasted approximately one hour"

Hungary to object Ukraine’s accelerated accession to EU — PM

Hungary has consistently warned that Ukraine's immediate entry into the EU would cause severe harm to the European economy

Ukrainian soldiers stunned by Russia’s Operation Pipeline — Russian commander

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