Israel kills 3 in Gaza as Hamas delegation arrives in Cairo for phase two ceasefire talks

CAIRO – 8 March 2025: Three Palestinians were killed and others were injured in Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip in Rafah, southern Gaza, according to media reports.

The attacks come while officials from Hamas have arrived in Cairo to discuss the continuation of the Gaza ceasefire agreement with Israel, after the first phase of the agreement that took effect on 19 January expired on 1 March.

Egypt’s State Information Service (SIS) announced that these discussions aim to address the procedures for implementing the ceasefire and to advance negotiations into the second phase of the agreement.

Egypt is conducting intensive diplomatic efforts with Qatar, the US as well as Hamas leaders to expedite the transition into this next phase, the SIS said, highlighting Egyptian-Qatari efforts to provide pertinent essential guarantees.

As tensions persist, both Hamas and Israel are under increasing pressure to uphold the ceasefire, while mediators of the ceasefire: Egypt, Qatar and the US continue facilitating negotiations.

Hamas still keeps 59 captives in Gaza, including at least 22 who are still alive.

Israel is striving to extend the expired first phase to allow for the release of more captives without the obligation to end the war. The first phase saw Hamas release 38 captives, including eight deceased, in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.

Hamas has rejected the extension proposal, initially suggested by US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, calling it an attempt by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to evade the agreement.

To pressure Hamas into accepting the extension, Israel has imposed a blockage on all humanitarian aid entering Gaza since 2 March.

Hamas has expressed its readiness to release all remaining captives in Gaza in one go in exchange for ending the war and withdrawing Israeli troops under the second phase of the deal.

The US, under President Donald Trump, has intensified negotiations to release the remaining captives in Gaza with American negotiators engaging in direct talks with Hamas last week.

Two sources with direct knowledge of the discussions told Axios that the US, represented by presidential envoy for captive affairs Adam Boehler, and Hamas discussed the possibility of a broader deal to end the Israeli war in Gaza.

Direct US-Hamas negotiations are unprecedented and represent a significant departure from the US longstanding policy of avoiding direct engagement with the movement.