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Indirect ceasefire negotiations between Israeli and Hamas delegations have commenced in Qatar, coinciding with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s planned visit to Washington for discussions with former US President Donald Trump.
Prime Minister Netanyahu has expressed hope that his meeting with Trump on Monday will facilitate progress toward an agreement for the release of additional hostages and a cessation of hostilities in Gaza.
Netanyahu stated that he has provided his negotiating team with clear directives to secure a ceasefire agreement based on conditions previously accepted by Israel.
Hamas has indicated that it responded favorably to the latest ceasefire proposal; however, substantial discrepancies reportedly remain between the two sides that require resolution to reach a final accord.
Currently, Hamas continues to maintain its prior demands, including guarantees for a complete cessation of hostilities upon the conclusion of any truce and the withdrawal of Israeli forces.
The Israeli government has previously rejected these conditions.
Israel’s position also appears largely unchanged. Prior to departing for the United States, Netanyahu reiterated his commitment to what he defined as three key objectives: “The release and return of all hostages, living and deceased; the dismantling of Hamas’s capabilities – its expulsion from Gaza; and ensuring that Gaza no longer poses a threat to Israel.”
Qatari and Egyptian mediators face a considerable challenge in these indirect talks between Israel and Hamas, tasked with resolving the persistent obstacles that have impeded prior initiatives since the expiration of the previous ceasefire in March.
Since then, Israel has resumed its offensive against Hamas with intensified operations, coupled with an eleven-week restriction on aid entering Gaza, which was partially eased several weeks ago.
The Israeli government asserts that these actions aim to further weaken Hamas and compel it to negotiate and release the hostages.
Over the past 24 hours alone, the Israeli military reports having targeted 130 Hamas positions and eliminated a number of militants.
However, civilian casualties in Gaza continue to rise. Hospital officials in Gaza report that over 30 individuals were killed on Sunday.
The central questions now are whether the Qatar talks can yield a mutually acceptable compromise, and whether Trump can successfully persuade Netanyahu to conclude the conflict during their meeting on Monday.
Many in Israel already believe that this concession is warranted to secure the safe return of the remaining hostages.
Demonstrations persisted on Saturday evening, with participants urging Netanyahu to finalize an agreement for the release of the hostages.
However, hardline voices within Netanyahu’s cabinet, including National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, have reiterated their strong opposition to ending the war in Gaza before Hamas is completely neutralized.
A sense of renewed momentum toward a ceasefire agreement is palpable, yet uncertainty remains as to whether the Israeli government or Hamas are prepared to accept a settlement that may fall short of their previously established key conditions.
Once again, Palestinians in Gaza and the families of Israeli hostages held there are fervently hoping this will not be another false dawn.
The Israeli military’s campaign in Gaza was initiated in response to the Hamas attacks of October 7, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people and the abduction of 251 others.
Since then, at least 57,338 people have been killed in Gaza, according to figures released by the territory’s Hamas-controlled health ministry.
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