Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dispatched a negotiation team to Qatar for renewed talks over a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release, responding to Hamas’s latest signal that it is ready to engage “immediately and seriously” in fresh dialogue. 

The initiative follows nearly 21 months of relentless conflict in Gaza. Although Netanyahu acknowledged Hamas’s willingness to negotiate, he swiftly rejected proposed amendments to the US-backed Qatari truce framework, calling them “unacceptable.” 

He emphasized that Israel remains committed to the original terms previously agreed upon.

Netanyahu’s team is expected to participate in proximity talks aimed at securing the release of 49 remaining hostages held in Gaza, 27 of whom are believed to be dead. 

According to two Palestinian sources, the truce plan includes a 60-day halt in hostilities during which Hamas would release 10 surviving hostages and several bodies in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. 

Additional terms requested by Hamas involve guarantees for humanitarian aid, restrictions on future military operations, and a gradual Israeli withdrawal.

As Netanyahu prepares for a high-stakes meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington, civilian suffering in Gaza continues to escalate. On Saturday alone, Israeli operations reportedly claimed 42 lives, as confirmed by Gaza's civil defence agency. 

The conflict has led to over 57,000 deaths in Gaza, with dire humanitarian conditions deepening among its 2.2 million residents.

Egypt and the U.S. are actively mediating the negotiations, with Egypt’s foreign ministry confirming ongoing coordination to facilitate indirect meetings between the parties.

Despite two prior temporary truces brokered by Qatar, Egypt, and the U.S., a long-lasting peace remains elusive. Local voices, like Karima al-Ras from Khan Yunis, reflect a desperate hope for a breakthrough. “People are dying for flour,” she said, capturing the urgency felt across Gaza

Source: Agencies

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