Israel Agrees to Attend Qatar Talks on Gaza Ceasefire despite Rejecting Hamas Amendments
Israel has agreed to send a delegation to Qatar on Sunday for indirect negotiations with Hamas regarding a potential ceasefire and hostage release deal, despite Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu calling Hamas’s proposed amendments “unacceptable.”
The talks, facilitated by mediators from Qatar, the United States, and Egypt, aim to finalize an agreement for a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza. While Hamas claimed on Friday it had issued a “positive response,” sources say the group is seeking revisions, including assurances that hostilities won’t resume if negotiations for a permanent truce fail.
The situation in Gaza remains dire. The Hamas-run health ministry reported that 80 people have died in Israeli strikes over the past 24 hours. Among the casualties were seven individuals, including a doctor and his three children, who were killed in a bombing in the al-Mawasi area, near Khan Younis.
Meanwhile, two American staff members of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), an aid group backed by Israel and the U.S., were injured in a grenade attack in Khan Younis. Both Israeli and U.S. officials blamed Hamas for the incident, though the group has yet to comment.
Despite rejecting Hamas’s demands, Netanyahu’s office announced Saturday night that Israel would still participate in the proximity talks. “The changes that Hamas is seeking to make are unacceptable to Israel,” the statement read. “However, based on a situational assessment, the Prime Minister has instructed that the delegation proceed with talks to secure the return of our hostages under the framework of the Qatari proposal, which Israel has accepted.”
An Israeli official earlier suggested there was “something to work with” in Hamas’s reply, raising cautious optimism for potential progress. Negotiators will now meet in Doha to attempt to bridge the remaining gaps.
U.S. President Donald Trump, who has expressed confidence in a forthcoming deal, is monitoring the situation closely. He is scheduled to meet Netanyahu on Monday and has indicated a desire to announce a breakthrough if possible. “There could be a Gaza deal next week,” Trump stated on Friday before reviewing Hamas’s response.
As the talks continue, hope and tension rise among families of both Israeli hostages and Palestinians. On Saturday night, thousands gathered in Tel Aviv for a rally demanding a comprehensive deal. Among the speakers was Yechiel Yehoud, whose daughter Arbel was freed during the previous ceasefire brokered with Trump’s involvement.
“President Trump, thank you for bringing our Arbel back,” Yehoud said. “Please don’t stop. We need a big, beautiful hostages deal.”
The latest proposal reportedly includes the staggered release of 10 living Israeli hostages and the return of the remains of 18 others, in exchange for Palestinians held in Israeli prisons. It also outlines the immediate delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza through UN and Red Cross channels.
However, Hamas has pushed back on several aspects of the deal. According to a senior Palestinian official, the group wants all aid distribution managed solely by the UN and its partners, with the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation’s role eliminated. Additionally, Hamas is demanding a full Israeli troop withdrawal to positions held before the March offensive and seeks a U.S. guarantee that military operations won’t resume even if a permanent truce isn’t reached.
While the proposed plan calls for phased Israeli withdrawals and serious negotiations from day one, Israel has maintained a firm stance. Netanyahu insists the war will only end when all hostages are freed and Hamas’s military and governing power is dismantled.
Far-right members of Netanyahu’s coalition, including National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, have also voiced strong opposition to any deal. Ben-Gvir called for the complete conquest of Gaza, the cessation of humanitarian aid, and the encouragement of Palestinian emigration as the only path to recovering the hostages.
The conflict began after the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack that killed around 1,200 people and resulted in the abduction of 251 individuals. Since then, the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza reports over 57,000 deaths in the territory.
