Fresh negotiations between Hamas and Israel resumed today in Qatar, aimed at brokering a ceasefire and securing the release of hostages, just as Israel began a new phase of its military campaign in Gaza. Both Hamas and Israeli officials confirmed the renewed dialogue.
Hamas representative Taher al-Nono told Reuters that the discussions had begun and were covering every point “without preconditions.” Meanwhile, an Israeli official said this evening that Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu had instructed the Israeli delegation to stay in Qatar, a decision viewed as a signal that Israel is cautiously hopeful about the direction of the talks.
Netanyahu remained in close coordination throughout the day with the Israeli team in Doha, as well as with Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer and US envoy Steve Witkoff. “In an effort to dissuade Hamas from its refusal and to advance a deal for the release of our hostages,” the official noted, “the Prime Minister has instructed the negotiation team to remain in Doha for now.”
Defense Minister Israel Katz credited the launch of Israel’s newest Gaza operation for pushing Hamas back to the negotiating table.
Delegations from both sides had traveled to Qatar earlier in the week, following the release of American-Israeli IDF soldier Edan Alexander by Hamas as part of an arrangement with the United States. That agreement, which excluded Israel, came just before US President Donald Trump’s visit to the region.
However, initial discussions produced little headway, with both parties remaining firm in their positions—Israel insisting on a temporary truce only under the condition that Hamas is significantly weakened, and Hamas demanding that the war end altogether.
On Shabbos morning, Katz released a statement declaring: “With the launch of Operation Gideon’s Chariots in Gaza, led with great force by IDF command, the Hamas delegation in Doha announced a return to negotiations on a hostage deal, contrary to the intransigent stance they had taken up until that moment.”
He continued, “The heroism of IDF soldiers, the unity of the people, and the determination of the political leadership increase the chances of bringing back the hostages.”
Nono stated that Hamas was “keen to exert all the effort needed” to help the mediators succeed, though he added there was “no certain offer on the table.”
Qatar-based outlet al-Araby al-Jadeed quoted a senior Hamas official who said that the delegations were reviewing a possible two-month truce during which more detailed talks would take place to end the war. The official also said Washington would be directly involved to help ensure the implementation of any agreement reached.
Kan News reported that the emerging deal would include the release of 10 hostages in exchange for a ceasefire lasting between six and eight weeks. As part of the terms, Israel would release 200 to 250 Palestinian prisoners. The final number is still being debated. On the tenth day of the truce, Hamas would present a list detailing the condition and status of all the remaining hostages—both those alive and those deceased.
Channel 12 reported that Khalil al-Hayya of Hamas met tonight with Qatar’s Prime Minister Mohammed Al-Thani, according to Egyptian sources.
An Israeli official told the outlet that “the talks in Doha were ‘serious,’ but that ‘Hamas needs to understand they must agree to the Witkoff framework, and if not, the ground offensive will begin soon’ in Gaza.”
The Witkoff proposal, originally presented in March, called for a 40-day ceasefire in return for the release of roughly half of the remaining living captives. Israeli leaders have backed the plan and hoped to advance it during these talks.
Hamas, however, has so far rejected any arrangement that does not involve a complete end to the war. According to a Palestinian source cited by Kan, the main sticking point remains whether Israel will offer any guarantee—possibly through international backers like the United States—that it won’t resume military operations once all hostages are freed. Hamas is making such assurances a central demand.
There are currently 58 hostages being held by Hamas and other groups in Gaza, including 57 of the 251 taken on October 7, 2023. The IDF has confirmed that at least 35 of them are dead. Officials have expressed grave concern for the conditions of three additional captives whose status remains unclear.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas addressed the situation during an Arab League summit in Baghdad today, calling on Hamas and other factions to relinquish control of Gaza and surrender their weapons to the PA.
“The Palestinian cause is facing existential dangers and the genocidal crimes it is facing today in Gaza are part of a colonialist project that undermines the project of an independent Palestinian state,” Abbas declared, as reported by the Iraqi News Agency.
He added, “The Palestinian vision supports the adoption of an Arab plan that supports stopping Zionist attacks and achieving peace in the region. The Palestinian Authority is proceeding with a comprehensive reform process that includes all its institutions.”
Hamas took over Gaza by force in 2007, toppling Abbas’s Western-backed PA in a violent coup. Attempts to reconcile the rival factions have consistently fallen through over the years.
Although Hamas has signaled willingness to relinquish authority over Gaza and agree to a yearlong truce, it has steadfastly refused to disarm or dismantle its military infrastructure permanently.
On Friday night, the IDF confirmed it had initiated the first wave of its planned large-scale offensive in Gaza, known as Operation Gideon’s Chariots. The campaign aims to capture strategic areas, weaken Hamas’s control, and recover hostages. Hamas-led health officials claimed that dozens were killed overnight and Shabbos morning during intense Israeli airstrikes.
Israel had previously warned Hamas that if no progress was made in the negotiations by the time President Trump completed his regional trip, a major military push would begin.
In a formal announcement, the IDF said it had “launched extensive attacks and mobilized forces… to achieve all the goals of the war in Gaza, including the release of the hostages and the defeat of Hamas.”
Palestinian media outlets reported that Israeli troops advanced toward the central Gaza town of Deir al-Balah overnight, with heavy artillery and airstrikes targeting the eastern parts of the area. This marks the first deep push into Deir al-Balah by Israeli ground forces since the war began on October 7.
According to Israeli officials, the objective of the new operation includes seizing territory, destroying Hamas’s grip on aid distribution, and relocating civilians from northern to southern Gaza.
{Matzav.com Israel}