Recent discussions between Israel and Hamas in Doha aimed at establishing a ceasefire for Gaza did not yield substantial progress, according to a Palestinian official.
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“Although we did not achieve a breakthrough during this morning’s negotiations, talks will persist, and Hamas remains hopeful for an agreement,” the official shared, emphasizing the urgency of ending over 21 months of conflict in Gaza.
Another source close to the negotiations indicated that discussions are set to resume later in the evening.
This round of talks coincides with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s upcoming meeting in Washington with US President Donald Trump, who is advocating for a resolution to the ongoing crisis.
Prior to Mr. Netanyahu’s third visit since Mr. Trump took office this year, the US President expressed optimism, stating, “There’s a good chance we have a deal with Hamas… during the coming week.”
As Mr. Trump returned to the White House, he noted, “We’ve secured the release of many hostages, and regarding the remaining ones, I believe several will be coming out soon.”
Mr. Netanyahu, speaking before his departure, mentioned that his meeting with Mr. Trump could “definitely help advance this deal.”
With Gaza in the grips of a humanitarian crisis stemming from nearly two years of warfare, the US President is pushing for a truce. Mr. Netanyahu has communicated that he sent a team to Qatar with “clear instructions” to finalize an agreement “within the agreed-upon conditions.” Previously, he described Hamas’s response to a draft US-backed ceasefire proposal, communicated through Qatari and Egyptian intermediaries, as containing “unacceptable” demands.
According to two Palestinian sources with knowledge of the discussions, the proposal under consideration includes a 60-day truce. In this timeframe, Hamas would release ten living hostages along with several deceased bodies in exchange for Palestinians currently detained by Israel. However, the group is also insisting on specific conditions governing Israel’s withdrawal, protections against renewed conflict during negotiations, and the restoration of the UN-led aid distribution system.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog emphasized the significance of Netanyahu’s visit, describing it as an “important mission” aimed at “advancing a deal to bring all our hostages home.”
The White House has stated that Mr. Trump is not expected to meet with the Israeli Prime Minister until 11:30 PM Irish time, without the usual press coverage.
From the 251 hostages taken by Palestinian militants during the October 2023 attack, 49 remain in Gaza, including 27 that the Israeli military reports are deceased.
Following Hamas’s offensive in October 2023, which triggered a significant Israeli counter-offensive, mediators have facilitated two temporary ceasefires, leading to the release of hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. However, recent attempts to broker a new truce have encountered persistent challenges, primarily due to Israel’s refusal to accept Hamas’s request for a long-term ceasefire.
In Gaza, the local civil defense agency reported that Israeli forces killed at least 12 individuals today, including six in a clinic that sheltered displaced persons affected by the conflict. Due to media restrictions and access limitations in the region, AFP is unable to independently confirm these reports.
Salman Qudum, a survivor of the attack on the clinic in Gaza City, poignantly stated, “We don’t know where to go or what to do,” urging negotiators and mediators in Doha to “apply pressure” to ensure a ceasefire, as “the people can’t take this anymore.”
In a statement released today, the Israeli military claimed it had targeted “dozens of terrorists, weapons depots, observation posts, military buildings, and other terror infrastructures” across Gaza in the past 24 hours.
The ongoing war has generated dire humanitarian conditions for more than two million residents in Gaza. In late May, a US- and Israel-backed organization, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, assumed responsibility for food distribution in the territory after Israel partially lifted a blockade on aid deliveries that lasted over two months. However, its operations have faced substantial challenges, with reports of aid seekers being killed while waiting near distribution points.
The attack by Hamas in October 2023 resulted in 1,219 deaths, predominantly among civilians, according to figures compiled by AFP based on Israeli sources. In retaliation, Israel’s campaign has led to at least 57,523 fatalities in Gaza, with the majority being civilians, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-controlled territory. The United Nations acknowledges the reliability of these figures.
Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times International – Monitoring.
