Phase 2 negotiations of Gaza ceasefire deal begin

On February 4, a spokesman for the Hamas Islamic Movement confirmed that negotiations for phase 2 of the ceasefire agreement between the Hamas Islamic Movement and Israel in the Gaza Strip have begun.

Meanwhile, the Israeli Prime Minister's Office said it would send a delegation to Qatar's capital Doha over the weekend to negotiate phase two of the ceasefire agreement, which is to discuss technical details.

The statement came after a meeting with advisers to US President Donald Trump, including Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, and signaled the possibility of progress ahead of a meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Trump also on February 4.

Hamas has previously said it is ready to negotiate a second phase of the ceasefire, brokered by Qatar, the United States and Egypt, and will focus on ending the conflict in a more lasting way.

The first phase of the ceasefire, which took effect on January 19, ended more than 15 months of conflict that left much of the Gaza Strip devastated.

During this period, Hamas and Israel began exchanging hostages held in Gaza for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.