Israel is sending a delegation to Qatar today for negotiations with Hamas, but stated that the Palestinian group is seeking “unacceptable” changes to the U.S.-backed Gaza Strip ceasefire proposal.
The Israeli delegation’s travel coincides with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s departure for Washington, where he is scheduled to meet with President Trump at the White House on Monday. This high-stakes meeting takes place amidst the Trump administration’s latest push to secure a ceasefire in Gaza, aiming to end nearly two years of conflict.
Hamas’s Response and Israeli Concerns
Hamas delivered what it described as a “positive” response to the U.S.-backed ceasefire plan late last week. However, Prime Minister Netanyahu’s office released a statement late Saturday saying, “The changes that Hamas is seeking to make in the Qatari proposal were conveyed to us last night and are unacceptable to Israel.”
Despite this, Netanyahu “has directed that the invitation to proximity talks be accepted and that the contacts for the return of our hostages — on the basis of the Qatari proposal that Israel has agreed to — be continued.”
Details of the Proposed Ceasefire and Hamas’s Demands
The latest proposal, delivered to Hamas through Qatari and Egyptian mediators, aims for a 60-day pause in hostilities. During this period, Hamas would release at least half of the remaining Israeli hostages in five separate waves.
While President Trump expressed optimism last Friday about the prospects for a deal, Hamas has proposed numerous changes. According to the Times of Israel, citing officials familiar with the negotiations, Hamas is seeking:
- Assurance that talks aimed at securing a permanent ceasefire would continue even after the initial 60-day truce.
- Major changes to the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza.
- The withdrawal of Israeli Defense Forces to positions held prior to March, when a previous ceasefire collapsed.
Netanyahu’s office did not specify which of these demands are considered unacceptable by Israel.
