DOHA, February 18. /TASS/. Indirect discussions between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas movement concerning the second phase of the ceasefire in Gaza have not commenced yet, Qatari Foreign Ministry Spokesman Majid bin Mohammed al-Ansari confirmed.
"The discussions have not officially begun yet," he stated. "Our efforts are focused on ensuring the implementation of the current agreement as it stands <...>. We are closely working with both sides [of the conflict] to ensure that they initiate talks on the next phase as soon as possible," he added.
"According to the arrangement, the parameters of the first phase will remain in place until a resolution is reached [on the second phase], while the negotiations are ongoing. We are in constant communication with all involved parties, and the delegations have recently arrived in Doha, where intensive discussions are taking place."
He explained that the ongoing situation in the Gaza Strip complicates the process of negotiations, but the mediators remain hopeful that Israel and Hamas will come to an agreement that will allow them to move forward to the second phase of the truce.
In January, Israel and Hamas, under the mediation of Egypt, Qatar, and the United States, reached an agreement to implement a ceasefire in Gaza starting January 19. The first stage of the agreement will extend for 42 days. During this period, Hamas is expected to release at least 33 hostages to Israel, including the bodies of those who died, in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
Earlier in February, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held discussions with US special envoy for the Middle East Stephen Witkoff regarding the commencement of talks for the second stage. On February 9, Ynet reported that an Israeli delegation had arrived in Doha to finalize the technical details of the ceasefire agreement. The Israeli team included officials from the Mossad intelligence agency, the General Security Service, the Israel Defense Forces, and Gal Hirsch, the coordinator for kidnapped and missing persons. However, on February 13, Taher al-Nounou, a spokesman for Hamas' Politburo, claimed that discussions had not taken place, accusing Israel of delaying the process.