Israeli officials to meet with Hamas in Qatar for ceasefire talks – Washington Examiner
Israeli officials are set to meet with Hamas in Qatar for ceasefire negotiations, despite Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office expressing concerns over changes Hamas proposed to the U.S.-arranged truce. The meeting is part of an ongoing effort to establish a 60-day ceasefire that would involve the mutual release of hostages and prisoners. Netanyahu’s decision to proceed with the talks occurs before his upcoming meeting with President Donald Trump, who is expected to advocate strongly for a resolution to the nearly two-year conflict. Key points of contention include the conditions for humanitarian aid to Gaza, the withdrawal of Israeli troops, and commitments for a permanent ceasefire.
Israeli officials to meet with Hamas in Qatar for ceasefire talks
Israeli officials will head to Qatar on Sunday for ceasefire talks with Hamas despite the “unacceptable” changes the terrorist group made to the U.S.-arranged Gaza ceasefire proposal, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu‘s office announced.
Israel had been weighing whether to proceed with the indirect talks earlier on Saturday after Hamas gave a “positive” response to the 60-day ceasefire proposal on July 4.
In a statement posted on X following those deliberations, Netanyahu’s office blasted Hamas’s changes to the proposal but said the Israeli negotiating team will head to Qatar regardless.
“The changes that Hamas is seeking to make in the Qatari proposal were conveyed to us last night and are unacceptable to Israel. In light of an assessment of the situation, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has directed that the invitation to proximity talks be accepted and that the contacts for the return of our hostages — on the basis of the Qatari proposal that Israel has agreed to — be continued. The negotiating team will leave tomorrow (Sunday) for the talks in Qatar,” the statement said.
Israel’s decision to proceed with the negotiating process comes just before Netanyahu is set to meet with President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday, a meeting where Trump is hoping to announce a ceasefire deal.
Trump has already indicated that he will be “very firm” with Netanyahu on the need for an end to Israel’s war against Hamas, which has been ongoing for nearly two years and has seen only two temporary stoppages to the fighting that began in October 2023.
WHERE THE CEASEFIRE NEGOTIATIONS STAND AHEAD OF TRUMP-NETANYAHU MEETING
The ceasefire proposal this time originally called for the release of hostages held by Hamas in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners.
In its response, however, Hamas wants Israel to bend on three issues to reach an agreement, including how aid would enter Gaza during a truce, how far Israeli troops would retreat during the temporary peace, and language directed at a willingness to end the war permanently.
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