Israel to send delegation to Qatar for Gaza ceasefire, hostage deal talks

Israel has decided to send a delegation to Qatar on Sunday to discuss a potential ceasefire and hostage deal in Gaza, an Israeli official confirmed, raising hopes for progress in ending the nearly 21-month war.

Hamas said it responded “in a positive spirit” to a US-backed proposal that includes a 60-day truce, following comments from US President Donald Trump that Israel had agreed to the necessary conditions.

Despite this, significant hurdles remain. A Palestinian official aligned with Hamas cited unresolved issues, including humanitarian aid, control of the Rafah crossing, and the timeline for Israeli troop withdrawal. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, expected to meet Trump in Washington on Monday, has not publicly addressed the ceasefire proposal and continues to insist on Hamas’ disarmament—something the group rejects.

The conflict was reignited by Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack that killed around 1,200 Israelis and resulted in 251 hostages. Israel’s military response has killed over 57,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s health ministry, and displaced nearly the entire population, sparking global outcry and allegations of war crimes, which Israel denies.

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