Hamas representatives said they were ready for talks on the second phase of the truce

Two high-ranking representatives of the Palestinian radical movement Hamas have expressed readiness to start negotiations on the details of the second phase of the current truce in the Gaza Strip. The British newspaper The Guardian reported on February 3.

"In ongoing contacts and meetings held with Egyptian mediators last week in Cairo, Hamas informed that we are ready to start negotiations on the second phase," an unnamed spokesman for the movement said.

A Hamas official said they are waiting for the mediators to initiate the next round of talks.

The newspaper said repeated demands by US President Donald Trump for Egypt and Jordan to accept 1.5 million Gazans have complicated negotiations on the second phase of the ceasefire.

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Earlier in the day, the Associated Press reported on humanitarian aid convoys entering the Gaza Strip two weeks after the ceasefire took effect. It is specified that many residents are still living in harsh conditions, facing high food prices and lack of basic necessities.

The ceasefire regime in the Gaza Strip came into effect on the morning of January 19. At the same time, the Palestinian movement Hamas handed over three Israeli hostages - Romy Gonen, Emily Damari and Doron Steinbrecher - to representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The next day, Israel released the first 90 Palestinian prisoners as part of the deal. The hostage exchange continues.

The situation in the Middle East escalated on the morning of October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a massive rocket attack from the Gaza Strip into Israel. On the same day, Israel began retaliatory strikes.