DUBAI — Egypt and Qatar are stepping up diplomacy to keep the Gaza ceasefire from collapsing after Hamas said it would delay the next hostage release and Israel warned it could resume fighting, according to Reuters.
An Egyptian source cited by state-linked Al Qahera News said the two mediators are in touch with both Israel and Hamas and that a Hamas delegation has arrived in Cairo for talks; similar details were reported by Anadolu Agency.
Ceasefire strains and deadlines
The truce has looked increasingly fragile since Hamas announced a pause in further hostage releases, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu set a Saturday deadline and U.S. President Donald Trump warned that “hell will break loose” if captives are not freed, as reported by Reuters.
Egypt and Qatar are urging adherence to the agreement and seeking “balanced implementation” to avoid a renewed escalation, with mediators warning a breakdown could have serious regional repercussions, according to Anadolu Agency.
Push for next phase and aid
In a separate joint statement, Qatar and Egypt said they are intensifying efforts to overcome obstacles and reach a 60-day temporary truce that would reopen crossings and accelerate humanitarian relief, according to the Qatar Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Leaders gathering in Egypt for a “Summit for Peace” have also urged full implementation of the first phase so talks can move to the next stage, reporting by PBS NewsHour.
Qatar’s prime minister has called the truce a “critical moment” and urged rapid progress to a lasting agreement, while Turkish officials warned the process could lose momentum without timely U.S. engagement, according to Al Jazeera.
Broader stakes
The war began after Hamas-led gunmen killed about 1,200 people in Israel and seized more than 250 hostages on Oct. 7, 2023, and Gaza authorities say more than 48,000 Palestinians have been killed in the conflict, figures cited by Reuters.
With the first phase of the truce nearing key deadlines, mediators say preserving the agreement is in everyone’s interest as they press both sides to stay at the table and avoid a wider regional flare-up, according to Anadolu Agency.
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Image: “Doha Skyline 10” by Zairon (CC BY 4.0). Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Doha_Skyline_10.jpg. Modifications: Cropped to 16:9 and resized to 1920×1080.
