Feb 03, Kathmandu- A ceasefire has now been reached in war-torn Gaza. The ceasefire was agreed as part of various phases of the ceasefire between Palestine and Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to discuss the second phase of Gaza ceasefire talks with US officials on Monday. 

Prime Minister Netanyahu spoke with US President Donald Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff on Sunday and agreed to "further discussions" with US officials during a meeting in Washington.

The first 42-day round of talks between Hamas and Israeli mediators and delegations ends next month, with no date set for a formal second round of talks. Witkoff is expected to speak with key mediators Qatar and Egypt before meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to discuss the second round of talks. 

The second phase is expected to see further discussions on the release of the remaining prisoners and a permanent end to the war, something that many members of Netanyahu's government have opposed.

Hamas and its ally Islamic Jihad have so far handed over 18 hostages to the International Committee of the Red Cross under a January 19 ceasefire agreement with Israel for the release of some 1,900 Palestinians held in Israel in exchange for the release of 33 people held hostage by Israel for more than 15 months. Hamas sources said a fifth group of hostages and Palestinian prisoners will be exchanged next Saturday.