Hamas-Israel ceasefire in crisis: deal in jeopardy

The complex geopolitical situation in the Middle East is once again becoming tense. It has been reported that the ceasefire agreement reached between Hamas and Israel is in jeopardy. According to Bassem Naim, a member of the Hamas political bureau, Israel is delaying the obligations stipulated in the first phase of the agreement.

Naim stressed that resuming the war is neither a desire nor a decision for Hamas. In his opinion, the main problem in the current process is that Israel is not fully implementing the terms of the agreement.

Delays in negotiations and threats to the truce

Negotiations between Hamas and Israel continue indirectly through Qatar. According to Bassem Naim, negotiations on the second phase of the agreement were supposed to begin on February 3, but official talks have not yet begun. This poses a serious threat to ensuring the long-term viability of the agreement.

The Israeli government, in turn, is further complicating the situation by emphasizing that Hamas is not complying with some parts of the agreement. Therefore, the delay in negotiations between the two sides increases the likelihood that the truce will collapse.

Ceasefire and prisoner exchange process

Hamas and Israel reached an agreement on a ceasefire and prisoner exchange on January 19, 2025. The agreement is designed to be implemented in three phases, with a total duration of 42 days. The first phase is expected to release more than 1,900 Palestinians and 33 Israelis.

The four-phase prisoner exchange has so far achieved the following results:

• 583 Palestinian prisoners have been released from Israeli prisons.
  
• Hamas released 13 Israeli and 5 Thai prisoners from the Gaza Strip.
  
• On February 8, the Israeli army released 183 Palestinian prisoners. Among them are 18 prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment.
  

In addition, 54 Palestinians have been sentenced to long-term imprisonment, and another 111 are persons detained by Israel since October 7, 2023.

Agreement in jeopardy – what next?

Delays and disagreements in the implementation of the agreement between Hamas and Israel pose a serious threat to the truce. There are concerns that if the parties do not return to negotiations soon, military clashes may resume.

In the current situation, the main issue is whether the parties remain committed to the agreement. Qatar, Egypt and other international mediators are trying to revive the negotiation process, but only time will tell which way the situation will turn.

The outcome of this process could affect geopolitical stability in the entire Middle East region. Therefore, the international community is closely following this process. Follow “Zamin” news on “Telegram”