Thu Feb 27 21:12:26 UTC 2025: ## Gaza Ceasefire Talks Underway Amidst Tensions and Prisoner Exchange

**Cairo, Egypt –** Negotiations for the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire between Israel and Hamas commenced Thursday, February 27, 2025, under the mediation of Egypt, Qatar, and the United States. The talks aim to secure a lasting end to the conflict, focusing on the release of remaining hostages held in Gaza and the withdrawal of Israeli troops. The current ceasefire’s first phase expires Saturday, March 1, 2025.

The first phase concluded with a significant prisoner exchange: Hamas released the remains of four Israeli hostages—Ohad Yahalomi, Itzhak Elgarat, Shlomo Mantzur, and Tsachi Idan—in exchange for over 600 Palestinian prisoners. These included 44 male Palestinian teenagers and two women held in Gaza, and several others released in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. The release of the Palestinian teenagers was delayed earlier due to concerns about their treatment during Hamas’ public release ceremonies.

However, significant hurdles remain. Israel refuses to withdraw from the Philadelphi corridor along the Gaza-Egypt border, citing concerns about weapons smuggling, a stance that Hamas strongly opposes, calling it a violation of the ceasefire agreement. This disagreement threatens to derail the negotiations.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to dismantle Hamas’ military and governing capabilities, a goal also supported by the U.S. administration. Hamas, however, insists on retaining its weapons and will not release the remaining hostages without a comprehensive and lasting ceasefire.

The conflict, which began after a Hamas attack on southern Israel in October 2023, has resulted in the deaths of over 48,000 Palestinians and approximately 1,200 Israelis. The fighting also displaced approximately 90% of Gaza’s population and severely damaged its infrastructure. Adding to the already tense situation, a suspected Palestinian militant rammed his car into a bus stop in northern Israel, injuring at least eight people on Thursday.

U.S. President Donald Trump’s Mideast envoy, Steve Witkoff, is expected to arrive in the region in the coming days to assist in the negotiations. The future of the fragile ceasefire and the ultimate resolution to the conflict remain uncertain.

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