Hamas confirms it will not run Gaza in 2nd phase of Gaza ceasefire deal: Egyptian source

CAIRO – 15 February 2025: Hamas has reaffirmed its commitment to all three phases of the ceasefire agreement with Israel regarding the war in Gaza, according to an Egyptian source familiar with the negotiations.

The source, quoted by Al Qahera News, stated that Hamas will not participate in managing the Strip during the upcoming second phase.

Additionally, the source indicated intensified Egyptian efforts to establish an interim committee to oversee relief and reconstruction efforts in Gaza.

As part of the sixth prisoner swap under the ceasefire, Hamas released three captives today: US-Israeli Sagui Dekel-Chen, Russian-Israeli Alexandre Sasha Troufanov, and Yair Horn.

In return, Israel released 369 Palestinian prisoners, including 36 who had been serving life sentences and 333 who were detained without charge.

The Hamas movement announced that the sixth batch of three Israeli captives is being handed over as part of the ongoing prisoner swap deal between Hamas and Israel. The handover is taking place in Khan Younis, Gaza, on Saturday.#Egypt #Palestine #MiddleEast #Israel #GAZA |… pic.twitter.com/p6zhNwX8vt

— Egypt Today Magazine (@EgyptTodayMag) February 15, 2025

The ceasefire, brokered by Egypt, Qatar, and the US, took effect on January 19, halting over 15 months of Israeli war that devastated the enclave and killed more than 48,000 Palestinians, most of whom are women and children.

Under this ceasefire, Israel and Hamas have already exchanged a total of 1,135 Palestinian prisoners and 24 captives—19 Israelis and 5 Thai nationals—through six prisoner swaps.

Today’s release comes after days of growing fears of an imminent collapse of the ceasefire, triggered by Hamas’ initial announcement that it would delay the release of the next three captives under the agreement due to Israeli violations.

Hamas asserted that it does not favor the collapse of the ceasefire but accused Israel of violating the agreement by shooting dead Palestinians in the enclave and obstructing the entry of tents, caravans, fuel, and medical supplies.

In response to Hamas, US President Donald Trump demanded the release of all captives by Saturday noon or “all hell will break loose.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later warned that the Israeli army would resume “intense fighting” in Gaza “until Hamas is decisively defeated” if the captives were not released.

The Arab mediators Egypt and Qatar salvaged the ceasefire at the last minute with Cairo receiving a high-level Hamas delegation led by leader Khalil Al-Hayya.

The movement on Friday said it will adhere to the ceasefire as long as Israel fulfils its commitments, including allowing the delivery of aid to the enclave.

Negotiations on the second phase of the ceasefire, which encompasses an end to the Israeli war, has not yet started, according to Hamas, calling for the immediate commencement of talks facilitated by the mediators.