Palestinian militant group Hamas published video footage Saturday showing several Israeli hostages held in Gaza.
The video was released as the first phase of the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, which took effect on January 19, was set to end on Saturday.
The two sides disagree about the next steps in the truce. Israel wants more hostages to be released under an extension of the first phase. But Hamas is pushing for the start of the second phase that would pave the way for a permanent end to the war.
Under the terms of the agreement, is to remain suspended as long as both sides continue negotiations for a second phase.
negotiators were in Cairo this week to discuss the truce with Egyptian, Qatari, and US mediators, following officials’ visit last week.
What did the new Hamas video show?
The new footage of hostages shows Israeli brothers Iair and Eitan Horn embracing. The faces of what appear to be other hostages have been blurred.
The video was likely recorded before February 15, when Hamas released Iair Horn in a hostage-prisoner swap with Israel.
“I am very happy that my brother will be released tomorrow, but this is not logical in any way to separate families,” Eitan said in the footage.
“Sign the second and third phase,” he says, referring to the next stages of the truce deal. “Enough of war.”
The video, which has not been independently verified, was published on Telegram with the message: “Only a ceasefire agreement brings them back alive.”
Responding to the video, Israel said it would “not be deterred by Hamas propaganda” and would continue to “act relentlessly to bring back” all the hostages and “achieve all of Israel’s war aims.”
How do Israel and Hamas want the ceasefire to continue?
Israel is seeking a 42-day extension of the first phase, but Hamas is pushing for the start of the second phase to permanently end the Gaza war.
Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem said on Saturday that the group rejected Israel’s “formulation” of extending the first phase.
He called on mediators “to oblige the occupation [referring to Israel] to abide by the agreement in its various stages.”
In a separate statement, the militant group said it was ready to “complete the remaining stages of the ceasefire agreement, leading to a comprehensive and permanent ceasefire, full withdrawal of the occupation forces from the Gaza Strip, reconstruction and lifting the siege.”
The ceasefire came after 15 months of bombardment during which more than 60% of buildings were destroyed in an Israeli military operation launched in retaliation for an attack by the Gaza-based militant organization Hamas on October 7, 2023.
In this attack, around 1,200 people were killed and some 250 were taken to Gaza as hostages. The resulting Israeli army operation has killed some 48,000 people in Gaza.
Hamas says ‘no progress’ in negotiations
“At this fragile moment, we must avoid a resumption of hostilities that would deepen the suffering and further destabilize a region that is already perched on a knife’s edge,” UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said in an X post on Friday.
The UN said the truce has allowed the flow of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, which has seen widespread destruction and famine due to the war.
Two Israeli officials said Israeli Prime Minister was due to hold consultations with security chiefs and ministers after they returned from Cairo.
A Hamas official was cited by the Associated Press as saying there had been “no progress” before Israeli negotiators returned home and he had “no idea” when negotiations could resume.
During the first phase of the ceasefire, by Hamas and about 2,000 Palestinian prisoners have been freed by Israel.
Edited by: Louis Oelofse and Alex Berry
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