Thu Feb 27 19:22:19 UTC 2025: ## Israel Seeks Ceasefire Extension Amid Prisoner Release and Ongoing Tensions

**CAIRO/JERUSALEM** – Israel has released the final batch of 641 Palestinian prisoners as part of a multi-stage ceasefire agreement with Hamas, but the fragile truce remains precarious. With the first phase set to expire Friday, Israel has sent a delegation to Cairo to negotiate an extension, while simultaneously facing accusations of ceasefire violations.

The release, following another Israeli delay and the handover of four Israeli captive remains by Hamas, included over 450 prisoners returned to Gaza. Released prisoners described horrific detention conditions, including beatings, lack of medical care, and inadequate food.

Despite the prisoner exchange, Israeli forces have continued operations in Gaza, killing 17 Palestinians in the past 48 hours according to Palestinian health officials. Furthermore, the humanitarian provisions of the ceasefire’s first phase, including the delivery of essential aid, have not been fully implemented.

Discussions on the second phase of the ceasefire, which includes the release of remaining captives and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, have begun in Cairo with mediators from Egypt, Qatar, and the United States. However, Israeli officials admit that fewer than half of the 59 captives still held in Gaza are believed to be alive.

Israeli officials, facing domestic pressure to secure the release of the remaining captives, are seeking an extension to the first phase of the ceasefire. However, disagreements persist, notably concerning the continued Israeli military presence in the Philadelphi Corridor along the Gaza-Egypt border. Egypt opposes any Israeli presence on the Gaza side of the border. While some within Israel’s government favor extending the ceasefire, others are pushing for a resumption of hostilities.

Hamas has stated its readiness to begin talks on the second phase, but only within the framework of a committed ceasefire. The ongoing conflict has resulted in over 48,000 Palestinian deaths according to Palestinian health officials, devastating Gaza and displacing its population repeatedly since October 2023, following the initial Hamas attack on Israel which left at least 1,139 Israelis dead and approximately 250 taken captive. The negotiations in Cairo are crucial for determining the future of the fragile truce and the fate of the remaining hostages.

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