Gideon Saar, the Foreign Minister of Israel, announced on 3 February 2024 that the Israeli government will move forward with negotiations regarding the second phase of the ceasefire deal in Gaza.

During a press briefing, Saar stated, 'We had a security cabinet meeting last night.

We decided to open negotiations on the second phase.

It will happen this week.'

The negotiations are intended to ensure a seamless transition from the first phase of the ceasefire, which is scheduled to conclude at the beginning of March 2024. This second phase aims to establish a permanent cessation of hostilities and includes provisions for the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas.

Saar emphasized that Israel will not allow the Palestinian Authority to assume governance in Gaza as long as Hamas continues to operate as an armed faction in the enclave.

The context of these negotiations comes amid ongoing tensions in the region and previous agreements that have aimed to mitigate violence and promote stability.

The outcome of these discussions will be closely monitored by international observers and stakeholders involved in Middle Eastern diplomacy.