Feb. 28 (UPI) -- Negotiations to extend a fragile cease-fire between Israel and Hamas were underway Friday in Cairo, after Israeli and Qatari delegations traveled to the Egyptian capital.
The indirect talks on a planned second phase of the initial six-week cease-fire due to expire early Sunday were also being attended by representatives from the United States, Egypt's State Information Service said Thursday night in a news release.
"The parties involved have commenced intensive discussions on the subsequent phases of the truce agreement amid ongoing efforts to ensure the implementation of the agreed-upon understandings.
"Mediators are also exploring ways to enhance the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza as part of broader efforts to alleviate civilian suffering and support regional stability," SIS added.
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Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar confirmed Israel had dispatched a team to Egypt to explore whether there was sufficient common ground to negotiate an extension to the deal.
However, he indicated the preferred option for the administration of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was to maintain the current cease-fire to allow more hostages releases, and push back phase two that would see an Israeli military pullout from Gaza.
"We said we are ready to extend the framework [of phase one] in return for the release of more hostages. If it's possible, we'll do that," Saar told a news conference Thursday but refused to be drawn further on the question saying he would be able to say more after the Israeli delegation got back from Cairo.
Netanyahu is said to be eager to keep the current first phase in place to secure the release of more hostages sooner rather than later, particularly those believed to be in poor health, according to Israeli media reports.
The cease-fire, which came into force Jan. 19, continues to hold after Israel released more than 600 Palestinian prisoners Thursday, including 22 women and 24 children from Gaza, after a delay in the confirmation of the identities of the remains of four Israeli hostages handed back by Hamas on Wednesday night.
Negotiations on the second phase were supposed to have started Feb. 16 but were delayed Israel accused Hamas of using hostage releases as publicity opportunities, which in turn prompted Israel to suspend its releases of Palestinian prisoners.
The dispute was resolved Tuesday after Hamas issued a statement saying it was committed to the cease-fire agreement and wanted to see "all its stages and clauses" implemented.
The breakthrough came in Cairo after Hamas dispatched a delegation to the Egyptian capital led by the militant group's Gaza chief, Khalil al-Hayya, with Egyptian officials saying they had been assured that future returns of hostages would be conducted respectfully, without the paramilitary displays or parading seen in previous exchanges.
On Thursday, Hamas again affirmed the group's "full commitment to the ceasefire agreement" and its "readiness to enter into negotiations for the second phase."
U.S. President Donald Trump described the latest developments as "good," when asked about the prospects for a phase two at a White House joint press conference with visiting British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
"We'll see what happens. Nobody really knows, but we'll see what happens. We have some pretty good talks going on," said Trump.
The president added that he was aware that the ending of the initial phase was a critical moment but was confident progress made in the weeks since he came into office could be maintained.
