Description: With the negotiations in Cairo ending on Thursday morning, Hamas officials have stated they intended to uphold to the Gaza ceasefire agreement guarantees and release the intended three hostages on the Saturday deadline. Diplomatic efforts from the Arab mediators Qatar and Egypt bore fruit as the ceasefire is projected to continue while the negotiation talks enter its second and third phase. Israel has remained adamant that they would continue their military campaign in the enclave if the hostages weren’t released by noon on Saturday. Hamas also requested the lifting of the humanitarian aid objections as mobile homes were expected to enter key areas.
Impact: Diplomatic efforts from the mediation force have forced Hamas into upholding their end of the ceasefire agreement as they would probably use the delayed fighting to regroup and recuperate. Israeli forces mounted volunteers days before the announcement which most certainly additionally incentivized Hamas to pledge the release of the hostages. Threats from the Houthis also contributed into forcing Israel to abandon their adopted hard lined demands regarding the second phase of the ceasefire negotiations. In the upcoming period the ceasefire agreement should further hold as diplomatic efforts strengthen, while possibilities of reigniting hostilities are also still clear and present danger.