The tenuous truce in Gaza is under strain as Hamas strengthens its negotiation stance amid new Israeli air strikes in the devastated region. The first phase of the ceasefire agreement concluded two weeks ago, yet Israel is withholding the implementation of the second phase, which should lead to its withdrawal from Gaza, the liberation of all remaining hostages held by Hamas, and a definitive end to the conflict. Both sides, for now, have chosen not to resume war, though the Israeli military is intensifying airstrikes in Gaza, resulting in the deaths of numerous Palestinians. The Israeli military insists the casualties are legitimate targets who violated the truce or engaged in militant activities. The Palestinian Journalists’ Protection Center reports that among the dead are three journalists. Hamas accused Israel of “deliberate killings” in an attempt to derail the ceasefire and challenge mediators and the international community. According to the Ministry of Health in Gaza, Israeli fire has claimed 19 lives in the past 48 hours, bringing the total death toll in the 15-month Israeli campaign to over 48,500, predominantly civilians. Hamas has offered to release a living American-Israeli hostage, 21-year-old Edan Alexander, contingent on Israel’s implementation of the January ceasefire agreement. The US has dismissed this proposal as Hamas “stalling” with “impractical” demands. Israel has not commented on the latest statement from Hamas. The US has proposed extending the ceasefire to enable the negotiation of a permanent truce, accusing Hamas of demanding “entirely impractical” terms privately while feigning flexibility publicly. The indirect talks, held in Egypt and Qatar, are set to continue. Israel has withheld essential supplies like food and fuel and cut electricity to Gaza to pressure Hamas to accept a new deal. In response, Hamas demands hostages be released if Israel lifts its blockade, retreats from a strategic border corridor, and frees additional Palestinian prisoners. The war has severely damaged Gaza and displaced most of its population. Under the first phase of the ceasefire, 25 Israeli hostages and the bodies of eight others were released in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, and Israeli forces retreated to a buffer zone along the border, allowing humanitarian aid to flow into the region.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/mar/15/hamas-tougher-stance-talks-gaza-truce-israel