don't want bullet and let it be much like 6 page don't add source

Not a valid attachment ID.
The Gaza ceasefire deal has reached a critical juncture. The first six-week phase of the ceasefire, which began on January 19, has seen a mix of uncertainty, hope, grief, and anger. During this period, Israeli hostages, both living and deceased, have been released, and Palestinian prisoners have been set free. However, negotiations for the second phase, which includes the release of all remaining living hostages and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, have barely begun.

Talks opened in Cairo on Friday, but Israel's delegation returned home in the evening. Reports suggest that negotiations will continue "at a distance," with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu holding late-night talks with the delegation, senior ministers, and intelligence chiefs. This meeting, taking place late on the Sabbath, is highly unusual. As of mid-morning on Saturday, no details have been released. Israel appears to be looking to extend the current phase for another six weeks to secure the release of more hostages and release more Palestinian prisoners without withdrawing its troops. The Israeli government insists that Hamas, the group responsible for the October 7, 2023, massacres and the taking of 251 hostages, must lay down its arms and relinquish any form of authority in the Gaza Strip. Israel also states that it is not yet ready to leave the Philadelphi corridor along the Egypt-Gaza border, a process that should have begun on Saturday. An unnamed Israeli official stated, "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."

Last summer, efforts to secure a ceasefire in Gaza faltered when Netanyahu insisted on keeping Israeli troops stationed along the Philadelphi corridor. On Friday night, Hamas declared that it would not agree to any extension of phase one without guarantees from American, Qatari, and Egyptian mediators that phase two would eventually take place. Hamas seems determined to remain a force in Gaza, even if it might be willing to hand over day-to-day governance to other Palestinian actors, including the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority. Egypt has been working on a reconstruction plan for Gaza as an alternative to Donald Trump's proposal to take over the area and evacuate its entire civilian population. However, Western diplomats are not optimistic that the plan, due to be unveiled at an Arab League summit in Cairo next Tuesday, has the robust security and governance arrangements needed to meet Israeli demands.

This is a critical moment. For all the emotional turmoil of the last few weeks, Israelis have come to expect the gradual release of hostages. There are believed to be 24 hostages still alive, waiting to be freed, with another 39 presumed dead. Israelis desperately want them all back without the sort of propaganda displays that have disgusted and infuriated the entire country. If the process now grinds to a halt, public anger at both Hamas and their own government will mount. Further street protests are planned, including one on Saturday night in Tel Aviv's Hostages Square. The invitation for the protest reads, "We demand the return of all 59 remaining hostages by day 50 of the agreement."

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned that the coming days are critical for maintaining the ceasefire and prisoner exchange deal in Gaza. He emphasized that the ceasefire must hold and that all parties must spare no effort to avoid a breakdown of the deal. Guterres will attend the Extraordinary Summit of the League of Arab States in Cairo on Tuesday to discuss the reconstruction of Gaza. He described Gaza as a nexus of death, displacement, hunger, and disease, with hospitals, schools, and water facilities destroyed and reduced to rubble. The risk of further destruction looms over the population. Guterres stressed the need for a unified position among Arab leaders to deliver peace and stability in Gaza. He outlined key priorities, including maintaining the ceasefire and avoiding a breakdown of the deal. Israel seeks to extend the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire to secure the release of more detainees while intensive talks continue in Cairo for the next phase of the agreement.

The situation in Gaza remains fragile, with Palestinians continuing their daily lives in damaged houses and makeshift tents amidst the rubble of buildings destroyed by Israeli attacks. The ceasefire agreement has largely halted more than 15 months of fighting between Israel and Hamas, sparked by the October 7, 2023, onslaught by the terror group. Guterres emphasized the need for a two-state solution, with Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace and security, in line with international law and relevant UN resolutions, with Jerusalem as the capital of both states. He warned against a return to hostilities, which would deepen the suffering and further destabilize the already precarious region. Guterres called for sustainable reconstruction and a unified, clear, and principled political solution. He also voiced deep concern over US funding cuts to humanitarian programs, warning of severe consequences for vulnerable people worldwide, including those in Gaza, Sudan, Afghanistan, Syria, and Ukraine. The generosity and compassion of the American people have saved lives, built peace, and improved the state of the world, contributing to stability and prosperity.

The coming days are indeed critical for the Gaza ceasefire deal. The international community must work together to ensure that the ceasefire holds and that the remaining hostages are released. The reconstruction of Gaza and the establishment of a lasting peace in the region depend on the successful implementation of the ceasefire agreement and the cooperation of all parties involved.

[attachment deleted by admin]