Israel announced today that it will dispatch a negotiating team to Doha, Qatar, as early as Sunday to resume ceasefire discussions with Hamas. The move follows what mediators described as a “positive spirit” response from Hamas to a U.S.‑backed 60‑day truce framework. This development arrives on the eve of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s scheduled meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House.
In March, a previous ceasefire collapsed amid mutual accusations of bad faith. Since then, fighting has continued with devastating consequences for civilians on both sides. Mediators from Qatar, Egypt, and the United States revived talks in recent weeks, hoping to secure a temporary halt that could pave the way for a more durable peace.
Hamas issued its reply on Friday, stating that it stands “fully prepared, with all seriousness, to immediately enter a new round of negotiations on the mechanism for implementing this framework”. Yet the group added three reservations. It wants explicit language guaranteeing that negotiations will extend beyond the initial 60‑day period until a permanent agreement is reached. It also insisted that the United Nations oversee humanitarian aid delivery, rather than a U.S.‑Israeli backed fund, and demanded Israeli forces pull back to positions held before March’s escalation.
Despite these caveats, Israeli officials welcomed the shift in tone. A senior source quoted by Channel 12 News said, “It is possible to reach an agreement. This opportunity should not be missed”. The Israeli cabinet was set to review Hamas’s response Saturday night. While no final decision emerged, members signaled that the reply could form the basis for further talks.
Under the proposed deal, Hamas would free ten living hostages and return eighteen bodies over the 60‑day period. Initial releases would include eight hostages on the first day, with additional releases staggered thereafter. In exchange, Israel would free an undisclosed number of Palestinian prisoners. The Hostages Families Forum warned against any partial agreement, demanding a comprehensive deal that secures the release of all captives.
Palestinian Islamic Jihad, which holds additional hostages, also backed the negotiations. It called for further “guarantees” that Israel would halt military operations once releases began. Meanwhile, Israeli military activity, including airstrikes and ground operations, continued around Gaza, underscoring the fragile nature of the pause in violence.
Prime Minister Netanyahu’s meeting with President Trump on Monday will cover a broad agenda: tariffs, Gaza negotiations, ties with Turkey, the Iranian threat, and ongoing efforts against the International Criminal Court. New U.S. tariffs of 17 percent on Israeli imports take effect Wednesday, adding economic pressure to the diplomatic push. Some Israeli officials even floated plans for a joint celebration in July if the talks succeed, framing a future event as a testament to U.S.-Israeli cooperation.
Short Analysis
The decision to send negotiators to Qatar shows that all sides recognize the high cost of continued conflict. Hamas’s positive yet cautious reply hints at a willingness to test diplomatic waters even as it secures guarantees for a lasting ceasefire. Israel faces pressure from hostages’ families and its own public to achieve swift results, while the United States and regional mediators aim to demonstrate that sustained dialogue can yield progress. As Netanyahu heads to Washington, the stakes include not just a temporary halt in fighting but a broader test of whether diplomacy can overcome entrenched mistrust.
Sources: Al Jazeera
