Hamas Rejects Extension of First Phase of Truce – Israeli Hostages to Be Released Based on Agreed Terms

Hamas will not agree to extend the first phase of the truce agreement in Gaza, as requested by the government, a senior official of the organization stated today (02.03.2025). Speaking to Al Jazeera, Mahmoud Mardawi emphasized that Hamas will only release the remaining hostages from Israel according to the agreed phases of the truce agreement. The truce between Hamas and Israel took effect on January 19 after 15 months of bloody war, sparked by the significant attack by the Palestinian organization against Israeli territory on October 7, 2023. The agreement includes three phases, each lasting 42 days. During the first phase, the Palestinian organization released 25 hostages held in Gaza and returned eight hostage coffins to Israel, in exchange for approximately 1,800 Palestinian prisoners. The second phase of this fragile truce was supposed to begin today, during which the remaining Hamas hostages and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in Israel would be freed. The third phase is dedicated to rebuilding the Gaza Strip, with the UN estimating the cost of the project at over $53 billion. The agreement includes a clause for the automatic extension of the first phase while negotiations for the second continue. Israel desires an extension of the first phase until mid-April, whereas Hamas insists on starting the second phase.