DOHA, 1 March - Mediators are not currently negotiating with the Palestinian Hamas movement on the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement that was due to begin on 2 March, Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem said.
"The first phase of the ceasefire agreement signed by the resistance and the mediators ends today. Talks on the second phase were due to begin on the 16th day of the ceasefire, but this did not happen because of Israel's position, which has repeatedly violated the agreement," he told Qatar's Al Araby television. "There are currently no negotiations with Hamas on this matter and there is no interaction regarding the second phase," Qassem added.
He stressed that Hamas remains committed to the three-phase ceasefire agreement in Gaza.
Egypt's State Information Service reported on 27 February that Israeli and Qatari delegations had arrived in Cairo for talks on Gaza. US officials are also taking part in the consultations. The parties were expected to discuss the implementation of the Gaza ceasefire agreement to ensure that Israel and Hamas are complying with the accords.
In mid-January, Egypt, Qatar and the US brokered an agreement between Israel and Hamas to release hostages held in Gaza and to declare a ceasefire in the enclave. The ceasefire entered into force on 19 January. The first phase of the agreement ends on 1 March. All surviving Israeli hostages and the bodies of the deceased that were to be handed over in the first phase have been returned to Israel. In exchange, Israel released more than 1,500 Palestinian prisoners.
TASS / gnews-jav
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