Middle East officials look toward second phase of Israel-Hamas ceasefire with two hostages left in Gaza
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Officials from Turkey, Qatar, and Egypt convened in Cairo on Wednesday to deliberate on the next steps in the Israel-Hamas truce agreement.

Reports indicate that the gathering brought together Turkey’s and Egypt’s intelligence leaders alongside Qatar’s prime minister.

“The discussions focused on reinforcing collaboration with the Civil Military Coordination Center to remove any barriers, ensuring the ceasefire remains intact and violations are minimized,” a Turkish source revealed to Reuters. The officials also addressed ways to counteract breaches by Israel.

Red Cross vehicles in Gaza

Red Cross teams stood ready to proceed to areas within the “yellow line,” a zone Israeli forces vacated under the Gaza City ceasefire on November 12, 2025. (Photo: Dawoud Abu Alkas/Reuters)

Although both Hamas and Israel have leveled accusations at each other for breaking the U.S.-facilitated truce, negotiators are determined to progress to the subsequent phase.

The second phase of the deal involves the deployment of an international stabilization force and the development of an international body to govern Gaza. It also includes the disarmament of Hamas. Additionally, Israel will move further from the so-called “yellow line” ahead of the international force taking over, according to The Times of Israel.

Israeli soldier looks into Gaza

An Israeli soldier looks out at destroyed buildings, as seen from a guard position at an Israeli military outpost within the borders of the “yellow line” in the Shujaiya neighborhood in the eastern part of Gaza City in the Gaza Strip on Nov. 5, 2025.  (Nir Elias/Reuters)

On Tuesday, Israel returned the bodies of 15 Palestinians in exchange for the remains of Israeli hostage Dror Or. Israel has said that Or and his wife, Yonat Or, were killed during the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks on Kibbutz Be’eri. 

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum said in a statement that as their house caught on fire, Dror and Yonat evacuated their children through a window in the safe room, saving their lives. The couple split up in an attempt to escape, but they were both murdered by the terrorists. Two of their children, Noam and Alma, were taken hostage.

On Nov. 25, 2023, Noam and Alma were released in the first hostage exchange, exactly two years before their father’s remains would be returned to Israel.

Israeli hostage Dror Or

This undated photo provided by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum shows Israeli hostage Dror Or, who was abducted and brought to Gaza in the Hamas attack on Oct. 7, 2023. (Hostages and Missing Families Forum via AP)

The remains of two hostages — one Israeli, Ran Gvili, and one Thai national, Sudthisak Rinthalak — are still in Gaza. 

Hamas has committed to upholding its end of the deal and returning both, but did not give a timeline on when that may happen, according to The Associated Press.

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