More than six weeks after the latest round of negotiations began, the path to a lasting resolution in Gaza remains uncertain. While hostage and prisoner exchanges have taken place, talks over the next phase—including the release of all remaining hostages and an Israeli troop withdrawal—are struggling to gain traction.
On Friday, negotiators gathered in Cairo to discuss the future of the ceasefire and a potential roadmap for Gaza. However, by evening, Israel’s delegation had returned home, with reports suggesting discussions would continue remotely. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a rare late-night meeting with senior ministers and intelligence officials, underscoring the urgency of the situation.
While details remain scarce, Israel is reportedly seeking a six-week extension of the current phase. This would allow more hostages to be freed in exchange for Palestinian prisoners—but without withdrawing troops from Gaza.
The Standoff Over the Philadelphi Corridor
A key sticking point is Israel’s control of the Philadelphi corridor, the border strip between Gaza and Egypt. The withdrawal from the area was originally scheduled to begin on Saturday, but Israel has signaled its reluctance to cede control.
“We will not allow the Hamas murderers to again roam our borders with pickup trucks and guns, and we will not allow them to rearm through smuggling,” an Israeli official said in a statement on Friday. These anonymous comments are often believed to come directly from Netanyahu’s office.
Hamas, meanwhile, insists it will not agree to any extension of the current ceasefire phase without assurances from mediators—including the United States, Qatar, and Egypt—that a broader agreement will follow. The group appears determined to retain influence in Gaza, even if it allows other Palestinian factions, including the Palestinian Authority, to handle governance.
A Growing Sense of Urgency
On the ground, frustration is mounting. For weeks, Israelis have held out hope for the gradual release of hostages. There are still 24 believed to be alive and 39 presumed dead. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, a group advocating for their return, has organized further protests, including a major demonstration in Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square on Saturday night.
“We demand the return of all 59 remaining hostages by day 50 of the agreement,” reads an official statement from the group. “Now is our only window of opportunity – we won’t get another.”
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has also expressed concern, urging both sides “to spare no effort to avoid a breakdown of this deal.”
Fear of Renewed War
Despite the current pause, many fear a return to full-scale war is inevitable. Israel has made clear that Hamas must surrender its weapons and authority over Gaza before considering a long-term settlement. Meanwhile, Western diplomats remain skeptical about Egypt’s proposed reconstruction plan, which is set to be unveiled at an Arab League summit next week.
For two million Palestinians in Gaza, life remains a daily struggle amid widespread destruction. Families are still pulling bodies from the rubble, and any resumption of fighting would only deepen the humanitarian crisis.
With no clear resolution in sight, the fragile calm may not hold for long.
