Israel considers extending 42-day truce in Gaza

Israel is considering an extension of the 42-day truce in Gaza as it seeks to bring home the remaining 63 prisoners, while putting off agreement on the future of the enclave for now.

The initial phase of the ceasefire deal, launched with the backing of the United States and the help of Egyptian and Qatari mediators on Jan 19, is due to end on Saturday and it remains unclear what will follow.

“We are being very cautious,” Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel told reporters in Jerusalem, when asked whether the truce might be extended without the start of talks on a second phase which would include difficult issues such as a final end to the war and the future governance of Gaza.

“There wasn’t a particular agreement on that, but it might be a possibility,” she said. “We didn’t close the option of continuing the current ceasefire, but in return for our [prisoners], and they have to be returned safely.”

If no agreement is reached by Friday, officials expect either a return to fighting or a freeze in the current situation in which the truce would continue but prisoners would not return and Israel may block the entry of aid into Gaza.

Two officials who have been involved in the ceasefire process said Israel and Hamas have not engaged in negotiations to finalise an agreement over second phase of the ceasefire.

“I think it’s unrealistic to see something like that forming within a few days,” Haskel said. “This is something that needs to be discussed in depth. This is going to take time.”

The deal, which included the release of 33 Israeli prisoners in return for some 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from some of their positions in Gaza, has survived numerous hiccups. So far, 29 Israeli prisoners, plus five Thais, have been released in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian detainees.

There is now a standoff over the release of more than 600 Palestinians, which Israel has delayed.