Resumption of Indirect Ceasefire Negotiations between Israel and Hamas in Qatar

Indirect negotiations aimed at achieving a ceasefire in Gaza have recommenced in Qatar, as U.S. President Donald Trump engages with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to seek an end to the ongoing conflict.

According to a Palestinian official involved in the talks, “Indirect negotiations are continuing this morning in Doha, with a fourth meeting being held… the discussions remain focused on the implementation mechanisms, especially the clauses regarding withdrawal and humanitarian aid.” Despite these discussions, another official remarked, “No breakthrough has been achieved so far; the negotiations are ongoing.”

In this latest round, representatives of Israel and Hamas are meeting in separate rooms within the same facility, a strategy employed to facilitate dialogue amid ongoing tensions.

Speaking from the White House, President Trump expressed optimism, stating, “I don’t think there is a hold-up. I think things are going along very well,” when queried about potential obstacles to a peace agreement. Sitting opposite Prime Minister Netanyahu, he asserted, “Hamas is willing to end the conflict in Gaza,” which has now entered its 22nd month.

Mr. Trump emphasized, “They want to meet and they want to have that ceasefire,” addressing concerns that clashes involving Israeli troops might derail the talks. This week, Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, is slated to join the negotiations in Doha.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Netanyahu has expressed firm opposition to the establishment of a fully sovereign Palestinian state, insisting that Israel would “always” maintain security control over Gaza. He stated, “Now, people will say it’s not a complete state, it’s not a state. We don’t care.” During a dinner with U.S. officials, Netanyahu noted that the U.S. and Israel are collaborating with other nations to provide Palestinians with a “better future,” suggesting alternative relocation options for Gazans. “If people want to stay, they can stay, but if they want to leave, they should be able to leave,” he explained.

On the ground, Israeli armed forces reported the deaths of five soldiers during combat in northern Gaza, marking one of the most lethal days for Israeli troops this year. “All of Israel bows its head and mourns the fall of our heroic soldiers, who risked their lives in the battle to defeat Hamas and free all our hostages,” lamented Netanyahu.

Israeli military correspondents indicated that the fatalities occurred from improvised explosive devices in Beit Hanun, with at least 445 Israeli soldiers reported killed since the conflict’s escalation. In a grim report, the civil defense agency in Gaza stated that Israeli forces killed at least 12 individuals, including six in a clinic designated for the displaced.

Due to restricted media access, independent verification of casualty reports remains challenging, with the situation in Gaza continuing to deteriorate for its over two million residents.

While the Trump administration has consistently backed Israel, the President has increasingly called for an end to what he described as the “hell” in Gaza, recently asserting, “I believe there is a good chance of an agreement this coming week.” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt underscored the President’s urgency, stating, “The utmost priority for the president right now in the Middle East is to end the war in Gaza and to return all of the hostages.”

Assistant Leavitt indicated that Mr. Trump is keen for Hamas to accept a U.S.-brokered proposal “right now,” following Israel’s agreement to ceasefire terms and the release of hostages in exchange for Palestinian detainees. Notably, the proposal calls for a 60-day truce, during which Hamas would release ten living hostages and several deceased individuals, in return for the release of Palestinian prisoners by Israel.

As negotiations unfold, it has been reported that of the 251 hostages taken during the October 2023 Hamas attack, 49 remain in captivity in Gaza. The initial attack reportedly led to the deaths of 1,219 people, primarily civilians, while Israel’s retaliatory operations have caused at least 57,523 fatalities in Gaza, again predominantly civilian, as confirmed by the region’s health ministry, figures that the UN deems reliable.

Through this complex landscape of negotiations and escalating humanitarian crisis, the hope for a lasting ceasefire remains a focal point for various stakeholders involved.

Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times International—Monitoring.