Hamas claims completion of first phase of ceasefire deal

A senior Hamas official claimed on Tuesday that the group had completed the first phase of its ceasefire agreement with Israel, as the second phase and Gaza's future governance remain uncertain amid ongoing tensions.

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Senior Hamas official Osama Hamdan described the recently reached ceasefire deal with Israel as only a "preliminary agreement", not a comprehensive or final settlement, saying that Hamas had fulfilled its obligations under the first phase.

Hamdan warned that the greatest threat now comes from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's so-called "Greater Israel" vision, which he said poses a deep and lasting danger to regional stability.

The so-called "Greater Israel" refers to an expansionist vision that lays claim to not only the occupied West Bank and Gaza, but also parts of Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, and Jordan, a geopolitical map that reaches far beyond Israel's borders.

On the same day, during a visit to France, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said that the drafting of the provisional constitution of the state of Palestine, along with the laws on elections and political parties, was nearing completion. He reaffirmed that presidential and parliamentary elections would be held once the conflict in Gaza comes to an end.

Since the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire took effect on Oct 10, progress has been made in the transfer of the remains of hostages, the suspension of large-scale Israeli military operations, and others.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said on Monday that it had facilitated the return of the bodies of 300 Palestinians, 23 Israelis, and people of other nationalities since the truce began.

However, both Israel and Hamas have repeatedly accused each other of breaching the ceasefire, with sporadic clashes still reported. Gaza's health authorities said on Tuesday that Israeli attacks since the truce took effect have killed 245 people and wounded 623.

On Monday, Jared Kushner, former White House senior adviser and son-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump, met with Netanyahu in Israel to discuss the second phase of the ceasefire plan. The talks reportedly covered proposals to disarm Hamas, demilitarize Gaza, prevent Hamas from regaining control of Gaza, and possibly deploy a multinational peacekeeping force in the enclave.

Analysts say the first phase of the truce largely focused on humanitarian relief and short-term measures, while the second phase will involve complex political negotiations and long-term security arrangements -- making it far more complex and challenging to achieve.