Israel to start new ceasefire talks with the aim of disarming Hamas

Israel will start negotiations on a second phase of the ceasefire with Hamas as early as this week, aiming for the complete dismantling of the Palestinian group in Gaza.

- Agencies [e-mail]

JERUSALEM:

Discussions to extend the initial six-week truce and secure the rest of the hostages held by Hamas will start in coming days, Israeli Foreign Affairs Minister Gideon Sa'ar told reporters on Tuesday. Should the next stage of talks prove constructive, the current ceasefire framework may be extended when it expires in early March, he said.

Israel and Hamas agreed to pause hostilities in January after months of on-off talks overseen by the US and brokered by Qatar and Egypt. US President Donald Trump has leaned on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to make the truce open-ended, while supporting his ally's right to go back to fighting should Hamas stop the release of hostages.