Egypt, Qatar intensify efforts to salvage Gaza ceasefire as mediators fear breakdown of deal

By Ibrahim Khazen and Mohammad Sio

CAIRO (AA) - Egypt and Qatar are ramping up diplomatic efforts to salvage the Gaza ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, an Egyptian source said on Wednesday.

“Cairo and Doha are urging all parties to adhere to the agreement, despite political and on-the-ground complexities that are making the process increasingly difficult," the state-affiliated Al-Qahera News channel said, citing the source.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu threatened Tuesday evening to end the Gaza ceasefire deal if Hamas failed to release captives by Saturday noon.

The threat came one day after Hamas said that it would delay the next hostage release in response to Israeli violations of the ceasefire agreement.

Local Palestinian authorities have listed a series of Israeli violations of the deal, including the shooting of civilians and denying access to relief materials, including tents and caravans for displaced civilians in Gaza.

"High-level contacts are underway with the parties (Israel and Hamas) amid mounting US and Israeli pressure to resume military operations if the hostages are not returned by Saturday,” the source said.

“The Egyptian and Qatari mediation is seeking to find a way-out that ensures the balanced implementation of the agreement and maintains calm to avoid a new escalation that could lead to more losses.”

The source warned that the breakdown of the Gaza ceasefire deal “will lead to a new wave of violence that will have serious regional repercussions.”

“Preserving the ceasefire is in everyone's interest,” he added.

The three-phase ceasefire deal, mediated by Egypt, Qatar and the US, has been in place in Gaza since Jan. 19, halting Israel’s genocidal war, which has killed more than 48,220 people and left the enclave in ruins.

In phase one of the truce, which runs until early March, 33 Israeli hostages are to be released in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.