Israel To Begin Negotiations With Hamas For Permanent Cease-Fire, Release Of Remaining Hostages

Israel on Tuesday announced plans to enter negotiations with Hamas to secure a lasting ceasefire in Gaza and facilitate the release of the remaining Israeli hostages.

What Happened: Israel’s foreign minister, Gideon Sa'ar, declared that the nation is set to begin negotiations with Hamas, as per The Wall Street Journal.

The talks aim to establish a permanent ceasefire and secure the release of the remaining Israeli hostages held by Hamas. This development follows Hamas’ agreement to return the bodies of four deceased hostages, a gesture seen as a potential step toward broader peace efforts.

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In return, Israel has agreed to release all Palestinian women and minors under 19 detained in Gaza since October 2023, who were not directly involved in the conflict, according to Arab mediators, the report said.

Israel’s security cabinet approved the launch of the second phase of the ceasefire deal on Monday night, two weeks later than originally planned.

Why It Matters: The first phase of the 42-day ceasefire between Israel and Hamas is set to conclude on March 1. The transition to the second phase has been a politically sensitive issue in Israel, as members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing alliance remain opposed to ending the war without the complete dismantling of Hamas.

Earlier this month, President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. would take over the Gaza Strip and develop it, creating thousands of jobs. This proposal was met with widespread criticism, with world leaders rejecting the idea of displacing nearly 2 million Palestinians from Gaza.

President Trump also proposed a plan to convert Gaza into a real estate project. French President Emmanuel Macron emphasized the need for a political solution to the Gaza issue, rejecting the idea of turning the region into a real estate project.

Meanwhile, West Texas Intermediate crude futures jumped 0.61% to $71.14 per barrel by 8:20 a.m. ET, while Brent crude was down 0.29% to $75 per barrel. U.S. energy stocks were trading mixed in premarket as the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund XLE rose 0.47%. Oil giants Exxon Mobil XOM gained 0.17% and Chevron CVX was down 0.15%.

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This story was generated using Benzinga Neuro and edited by Navdeep Yadav.