Israel agrees to Gaza truce talks, Netanyahu says to send delegation to Qatar Sunday
But Netanyahu, who is due to meet with President Donald Trump in Washington on Monday, said the Palestinian group's proposals for changes to a draft US-backed ceasefire deal were 'unacceptable.'
Trump has been making a renewed push to end nearly 21 months of war in Gaza, where the civil defense agency said 42 people were killed in Israeli military operations on Saturday.
Hamas said Friday it was ready 'to engage immediately and seriously' in negotiations, and was sending its responses to the truce proposal.
'The changes that Hamas is seeking to make in the Qatari proposal were conveyed to us last night and are unacceptable to Israel,' said a statement from Netanyahu's office.
'In light of an assessment of the situation, Prime Minister Benjamin 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,' the statement added.
Hamas has not publicly detailed its responses to the US-sponsored proposal, which was transmitted by mediators from Qatar and Egypt.
Two Palestinian sources close to the discussions told AFP the proposal included a 60-day truce, during which Hamas would release 10 living hostages and several bodies in exchange for Palestinians detained by Israel.
However, they said, the group was also demanding certain conditions for Israel's withdrawal, guarantees against a resumption of fighting during negotiations, and the return of the UN-led aid distribution system.
Trump, when asked about Hamas's response aboard Air Force One, said: 'That's good. They haven't briefed me on it. We have to get it over with. We have to do something about Gaza.'
The war in Gaza began with Hamas's October 2023 attack on Israel, which sparked a massive Israeli offensive in the territory that aimed to destroy the group and bring home all the hostages seized by Palestinian militants.
Two previous ceasefires mediated by Qatar, Egypt and the United States secured temporary halts in fighting and the return of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.
Of the 251 hostages taken by Palestinian militants during the October 2023 attack, 49 are still held in Gaza, including 27 the Israeli military says are dead.
'Comprehensive deal'
The Egyptian foreign ministry said Saturday that top diplomat Badr Abdelatty held a phone call with Washington's main representative in the truce talks, Steve Witkoff, to discuss recent developments 'and preparations for holding indirect meetings between the two parties concerned to reach an agreement.'
Meanwhile, at a weekly protest demanding the return of the hostages, Macabit Mayer, the aunt of captives Gali and Ziv Berman, called for a deal 'that saves everyone,' without exception.
But recent efforts to broker a new truce have repeatedly failed, with the primary point of contention being Israel's rejection of Hamas's demand for a lasting ceasefire.
The war has created dire humanitarian conditions for the more than two million people in the Gaza Strip.
Karima al-Ras, from Khan Younis in southern Gaza, said people were 'happy that Hamas responded positively, and we hope that a truce will be announced' to allow in more aid.
'People are dying for flour, and young people are dying as they try to provide flour for their children,' she said.
A US- and Israel-backed group, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, took the lead in food distribution in the territory in late May, when Israel partially lifted a more than two-month blockade on aid deliveries.
The group said two of its US staff members were wounded 'in a targeted terrorist attack' at one of its aid centers in southern Gaza's Khan Younis on Saturday.
The Israeli military said it had evacuated the injured.
UN agencies and major aid groups have refused to cooperate with the GHF over concerns it was designed to cater to Israeli military objectives.
UN human rights office spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani said Friday that more than 500 people have been killed waiting to access food from GHF distribution points.
Civil defense says 42 killed
Civil defense spokesman Mahmoud Bassal said Israeli military operations killed 42 people across Gaza on Saturday.
Media restrictions in Gaza and difficulties in accessing many areas mean AFP is unable to independently verify the tolls and details provided by the civil defense agency.
Contacted by AFP, the Israeli military said it could not comment on specific strikes without precise coordinates.
The Hamas attack of October 2023 resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures.
Israel's retaliatory campaign has killed at least 57,338 people in Gaza, also mostly civilians, according to the territory's health ministry. The United Nations considers the figures reliable.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arab News
an hour ago
- Arab News
Islamic coalition hosts training program in Riyadh
RIYADH: The Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition launched a specialized training program titled 'Collection Management' on Sunday at its Riyadh headquarters. This initiative is part of the Kingdom's efforts to support and build the capacities of nominees from coalition member states, the Saudi Press Agency reported. The program aligns with Saudi Arabia's goal to enhance integration and cooperation among member states in the fight against terrorism. It targets 25 nominees from 14 member states, providing theoretical knowledge and practical skills in collection operations, data analysis, and supporting decision-makers in counterterrorism and anti-extremism. The five-day program, supervised by military and information experts, includes training sessions, simulations, and workshops to improve institutional readiness and capacity for current security challenges. This training is part of a broader coalition effort, now comprising more than 46 specialized programs covering areas like ideology, terrorism financing, military coordination, and media engagement.
Al Arabiya
an hour ago
- Al Arabiya
Far-right Israeli minister Smotrich lashes out at Netanyahu over Gaza war policy
Israel's far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich sharply criticized on Sunday a cabinet decision to allow some aid into Gaza as a 'grave mistake' that he said would benefit the militant Palestinian group Hamas. Smotrich also accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of failing to ensure that Israel's military is following government directives in prosecuting the war against Hamas in Gaza. He said he was considering his 'next steps' but stopped short of explicitly threatening to quit the coalition. For the latest updates on the Israel-Palestine conflict, visit our dedicated page. Smotrich's comments come a day before Netanyahu is due to hold talks in Washington with President Donald Trump on a US-backed proposal for a 60-day Gaza ceasefire. '... the cabinet and the Prime Minister made a grave mistake yesterday in approving the entry of aid through a route that also benefits Hamas,' Smotrich said on X, arguing that the aid would ultimately reach the group and serve as 'logistical support for the enemy during wartime.' The Israeli government has not announced any changes to its aid policy in Gaza. Israeli media reported that the government had voted to allow additional aid to enter northern Gaza. The prime minister's office did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. The military declined to comment. Israel accuses Hamas of stealing aid for its own fighters or to sell to finance its operations, an accusation Hamas denies. Gaza is in the grip of a humanitarian catastrophe, with conditions threatening to push nearly a half a million people into famine within months, according to UN estimates. Israel in May partially lifted a nearly three-month blockade on aid. Two Israeli officials said on June 27 the government had temporarily stopped aid from entering north Gaza. Pressure Public pressure in Israel is mounting on Netanyahu to secure a permanent ceasefire, a move opposed by some hardline members of his right-wing coalition. An Israeli team left for Qatar on Sunday for talks on a possible Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal. Smotrich, who in January threatened to withdraw his Religious Zionism party from the government if Israel agreed to a complete end to the war before having achieved its objectives, did not mention the ceasefire in his criticism of Netanyahu. The right-wing coalition holds a slim parliamentary majority, although some opposition lawmakers have offered to support the government from collapsing if a ceasefire is agreed. The war erupted when Hamas attacked southern Israel in October 2023, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. Israel's retaliatory war in Gaza has killed over 57,000 Palestinians, according to the enclave's health ministry. Most of Gaza's population has been displaced by the war, a humanitarian crisis has unfolded, and much of the territory lies in ruins.
Asharq Al-Awsat
an hour ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
UKMTO: Ship Attacked in Red Sea off Yemen with Gunfire, Rocket-propelled Grenades
A ship came under attack Sunday in the Red Sea off the coast of Yemen by armed men firing guns and launching rocket-propelled grenades, a group overseen by the British military said. No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, which comes as tensions remain high in the Middle East over the Israel-Hamas war and after the Iran-Israel war and airstrikes by the United States targeting Iranian nuclear sites. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center (UKMTO) said that an armed security team on the ship had returned fire and that the 'situation is ongoing.' 'Authorities are investigating,' it said, The AP news reported. Yemen's Houthi have been launching missile and drone attacks against commercial and military ships in the region in what the group's leadership has described as an effort to end Israel's offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Between November 2023 and January 2025, the Houthis targeted more than 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones, sinking two of them and killing four sailors. That has greatly reduced the flow of trade through the Red Sea corridor, which typically sees $1 trillion of goods move through it annually. The Houthis paused attacks in a self-imposed ceasefire until the US launched a broad assault against them in mid-March. That ended weeks later and the Houthis haven't attacked a vessel, though they have continued occasional missile attacks targeting Israel.
