Hamas called on Sunday for negotiations on the second phase of the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip, saying there were "positive signals," while Israel announced that it would send a delegation to hold new talks tomorrow, Monday, in Doha.

A delegation from the movement met with Egyptian mediators in Cairo on Saturday to discuss the progress of the truce in the Strip, which went into effect on January 19, more than fifteen months after the Israeli war of extermination on the Gaza Strip.

Hamas said in a statement issued at dawn on Sunday that its delegation stressed the "necessity of adhering to all the terms of the agreement, and immediately going to start the second phase negotiations, opening the crossings, and re-entering relief supplies into the Strip without restrictions or conditions."

The movement explained that its delegation, led by "the head of the movement's leadership council in Cairo, Muhammad Darwish, met with the head of the Egyptian General Intelligence Service, Major General Hassan Rashad, where many important issues were discussed in a positive and responsible spirit, especially the progress of implementing the ceasefire agreement and the exchange of prisoners in its various stages."

The delegation of the movement's leadership expressed its "thanks and appreciation for the Egyptian efforts in the previous period, especially in confronting displacement plans, and its appreciation for the outcomes of the Arab Summit, especially the plan to rebuild the Gaza Strip, and the emphasis on the fixed rights of our Palestinian people."

The delegation stressed the movement's "approval of the formation of a community support committee of independent national figures to manage the Gaza Strip until the Palestinian house is put in order and general elections are held at all levels, national, presidential and legislative."

The movement's spokesman, Abdul Latif Al-Qanou, confirmed in a statement on Saturday evening that "the indicators are positive regarding the start of the second phase negotiations."

He added that "the efforts of the Egyptian and Qatari mediators are continuing to complete the implementation of the ceasefire agreement" which began on January 19 and whose first phase ended on March 1. However, he stressed "the need for the mediators to oblige Israel to implement the agreement."

The Cabinet discusses authorizing the Israeli delegation to Doha

For its part, Israel announced that it would send a delegation on Monday to Qatar, one of the mediating countries along with Egypt and the United States, "with the aim of advancing the negotiations," in a brief statement issued by the Israeli Prime Minister's Office.

The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the delegation would head to Doha "at the invitation of the mediators and with the support of the United States" to try to overcome differences over the next stage that is supposed to lead to a final end to the war.

This afternoon, the cabinet will hold a "pre-scheduled meeting to discuss the mandate of the delegation that will head to Doha tomorrow." Channel 13 quoted a senior Israeli official this morning as saying, "There is American insistence on reaching an agreement, but so far there has been no tangible progress between the parties."

The Israeli delegation's visit will coincide with the presence of US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff in the region, as he is scheduled to hold a meeting in Saudi Arabia next week with a Ukrainian delegation to discuss a truce with Russia.

The Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation (Kan 11) reported this morning that “some progress has been made in the direct talks that the United States is conducting with Hamas regarding the continuation of the hostage deal,” referring to talks held by US President Donald Trump’s envoy for prisoner affairs, Adam Boehler, with Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya in Doha.

The first phase of the ceasefire agreement lasted for six weeks. When it expired at the end of last week, Israel announced its desire to extend it until mid-April, based on an American proposal, while it disavowed the second phase of the agreement.

According to Israel, the proposal is based on releasing "half of the hostages, living and dead" on the first day of the extension's entry into force, and the rest of the prisoners (living or dead) will be released if a permanent ceasefire agreement is reached.

Israel demands "complete demilitarization" of the Strip, the exit of Hamas from Gaza, and the return of the remaining hostages before moving to the second stage.

In contrast, Hamas insists on remaining in the Strip, which it has been running since 2007, on the complete withdrawal of the Israeli army from Gaza, an end to the imposed blockade, reconstruction, and the provision of financial aid based on a plan approved by the recently held Arab summit.

On Saturday, more than 50 released Israeli prisoners and families of prisoners still held in the Gaza Strip called on Netanyahu to implement the agreement with Hamas "in full" and ensure the release of the remaining detainees in Gaza.

"The war could break out again within a week," the mother of one of the prisoners still being held in Gaza said at the weekly gathering of the Prisoners' Families Forum in Tel Aviv. "The war will not bring the hostages back, it will kill them. Only an agreement that will bring them all back at once will bring them back."

She accused Netanyahu of undermining the negotiations and using her son and "other hostages as pawns on his political chessboard."

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday gave Hamas a “final warning” to “immediately” release all prisoners, living and dead, it is holding and its leadership must leave the Gaza Strip, threatening the residents of the Gaza Strip with death “if you keep the hostages,” in a threat that came shortly after Washington confirmed that it had held direct contacts with the Palestinian movement.

He wrote on his platform, Truth Social, “To the people of Gaza: There is a beautiful future awaiting you, but not if you keep hostages. If you keep hostages, you are dead! Make the right decision.”

Trump sparked shock and outrage last month when he proposed that the United States take control of the Gaza Strip and rebuild the devastated area into a “Riviera of the Middle East” after deporting its 2.4 million residents elsewhere, especially Egypt and Jordan, with no plan for their return.

On Saturday morning, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation adopted, in an emergency meeting of foreign ministers in Jeddah, the Arab plan to rebuild Gaza without displacing Palestinians, to confront Trump’s proposal. The plan, drafted by Cairo, calls for rebuilding the Strip without displacing its residents, and for the Palestinian Authority to return to rule it.