Israel and Hamas Resume Negotiations With Cease-Fire Set to Expire

Israel wants an extension of the first phase, with continued hostage releases, but Hamas insists on moving ahead toward a permanent cease-fire.

The mother of late Israeli hostage Tsachi Idan is hugged by a friend before the start of a Hapoel Tel Aviv club match as part of a public memorial ceremony in honour of Idan, who was a Hapoel supporter, at Bloomfield Stadium with in Tel Aviv on Feb. 28, 2025. Hamas on Feb. 27, handed over to Israel the bodies of four hostages, including Tsachi Idan, held in Gaza since its October 7, 2023 attack in exchange for more than 600 Palestinian prisoners. Gil Cohen -Magen/AFP via Getty Images

Israel and the Hamas terrorist group have resumed Cairo cease-fire negotiations, with the existing truce set to expire this weekend, according to Egyptian officials.

If they don’t reach an agreement, fighting may resume. During the six-week pause that began on Jan. 19, Hamas, which has controlled the Gaza Strip since 2006, released 25 hostages and the bodies of eight more back to Israel, in exchange for almost 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, many of them serving life or long prison terms.