Gaza Herald – Hamas said on Saturday that it remains engaged with international mediators to advance negotiations on the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement, while accusing Israel of undermining the deal through continued territorial control and ongoing attacks across the Gaza Strip.
Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem stated that discussions with mediators are ongoing in an effort to reach “reasonable, logical, and acceptable understandings” regarding the various components of the agreement’s second phase, which was scheduled to follow the ceasefire that took effect on October 10, 2025.
According to Qassem, Israel has effectively overturned the agreement by announcing plans to expand its military control over Gaza to 70% of the territory, while continuing attacks and killings throughout the enclave.
His comments came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged that Israeli occupation forces currently control approximately 60% of the Gaza Strip and declared his government’s intention to expand that control further.
Qassem argued that such actions place the credibility of all parties involved in the mediation process under serious scrutiny and called on mediators to adopt a “clear and decisive position” regarding what the Israeli violations of the ceasefire.
He said Hamas has demonstrated flexibility and openness toward proposals aimed at advancing the second phase of the agreement but accused Israel of continuing to block progress toward implementation.
The Hamas spokesperson also criticized Nikolay Mladenov, Executive Director of the Peace Council, accusing him of complicating negotiations by linking multiple tracks of the process together while remaining silent regarding ongoing Israeli actions on the ground.
Qassem urged Mladenov to take a clear position on what Hamas describes as repeated ceasefire violations and warned against becoming “a partner in any future aggression against the Gaza Strip.”
Hamas has repeatedly accused Israel of violating the ceasefire agreement since its implementation. According to figures released by Gaza’s Ministry of Health, at least 929 Palestinians have been killed and 2,811 injured in Israeli attacks carried out outside the officially declared military control zones since the ceasefire began.
The ceasefire agreement entered into force on October 10, 2025, following two years of war that resulted in the deaths of more than 72,000 Palestinians and injuries to over 172,000 others, while widespread destruction affected roughly 90% of Gaza’s civilian infrastructure. The United Nations has estimated reconstruction costs at approximately $70 billion.
On January 16, the White House announced the adoption of transitional governance structures for post-war Gaza, including the Peace Council, the National Committee for Gaza Administration, and the International Stabilization Force.
Under the framework, Israeli forces were expected to carry out additional withdrawals from Gaza during later phases of the agreement, while the International Stabilization Force would assume responsibilities related to security, humanitarian aid delivery, and support for reconstruction efforts.
These arrangements form part of a broader 20-point initiative proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump to end the war in Gaza, a plan endorsed by United Nations Security Council Resolution 2803, adopted on November 17, 2025.
