(VOVWORLD) - A Hamas spokesperson announced on Tuesday that the negotiations on the second phase of the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel in the Gaza Strip have begun.
 Palestinian refugees return home in the Gaza Strip on January 27. (Photo: Xinhua/VNA) |
The Israeli Prime Minister's Office confirmed that Israel planned to dispatch a delegation to Doha, Qatar, to discuss technical details of this phase.
This development follows a meeting with US President Donald Trump's advisers, including Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, and precedes a scheduled meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Trump on the same day.
Hamas has affirmed its readiness for the negotiation mediated by Qatar, the US and Egypt and promised to focus more on permanent ending of the conflict.
The first phase of the ceasefire, which began on January 19, concluded a 15-month conflict that had caused extensive devastation in the Gaza Strip.
The second phase aims to solidify a sustainable peace, focusing on the release of remaining hostages and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza.