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The National
4 days ago
- Politics
- The National
Mediators resume contact with negotiators despite angry US and Israeli reaction to Hamas's response
Mediators have resumed contact with Israeli and Hamas negotiators on a Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal, rekindling hopes for a breakthrough after Israel and the US angrily rejected Hamas's response to the latest proposals, sources told The National on Sunday. They said remote discussions intensified in the past 48 hours between the Egyptian and Qatari mediators on one side and US and Israeli officials on the other. The US offered assurances that full-blown negotiations will resume, they added. Israel's announcement on Sunday of a daily pause in military operations in three parts of Gaza and the opening of new aid corridors was in effect the implementation of the humanitarian segment of the latest proposals to pause the Gaza war, said the sources. The parties involved have also reportedly touched upon the possibility of an enduring settlement of the Gaza war, including the governing of the devastated enclave, reconstruction and the fate of Hamas's arsenal and leaders. Hamas has already given its unconditional agreement to a 60-day truce and signalled it was open to suggestions to lay down its arms and the departure of its leaders from Gaza to live in exile with their families. The sources said those issues will be discussed in more detail during the proposed 60-day truce. The United States has given assurances that the truce would continue as long as negotiations did not break down, they added. Since giving its response last week, the sources said Hamas informed mediators it has dropped the "small amendments" it wanted introduced to the deal and which provoked an angry response from the US and Israel. The changes, said the sources, dealt with Israel's redeployment of its forces in Gaza, plus the number and identity of Palestinians it wants freed from Israeli prisons as part of the agreement. "We believe the Trump administration and Israel, through their hard-line and ominous public response to Hamas's position, wanted to turn up the pressure on the group to accept the deal as is," said one source. "Mostly, the Hamas amendments were secondary. In some cases, they were to do with 100 metres here and 200 metres there when it comes to the redeployment of Israeli troops in Gaza." The sources said the continuing contacts between mediators, Israel and Hamas to finalise a deal were being mostly conducted remotely, with the Palestinian group showing flexibility on all contentious issues. They also pointed out that technical teams from Egypt, Israel, the US and Qatar were staffing an operations centre in Cairo to oversee the delivery of aid to Gaza and iron out relevant security issues. "The only route now open to a deal is for Hamas to accept what it's being presented with," said another source who has directly participated in the months-long negotiations over Gaza. "If Hamas does that, then we will all know whether Israel really wants a deal or not. That said, Hamas's response could have been dealt with through further negotiations. I don't understand why Israel and the US acted in public like they were slamming the door shut on the entire process." Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ominously said Israel and the US were "considering alternative options" to bring home the remaining 49 hostages and end Hamas's rule of Gaza. The two close allies on Friday withdrew their negotiators from Qatar, where the latest round of Gaza talks began on July 6. The Gaza war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led fighters stormed southern Israel, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking another 250 hostages back to Gaza. Since then, Israel's military response has killed nearly 60,000 Palestinians and wounded more than twice that number, according to Gaza health officials. It has also reduced much of the enclave to ruins and displaced nearly all the 2.3 million population.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Doha talks fell flat over hostage exchange, IDF withdrawal, Hamas source tells CNN
Israeli Foreign Ministry officials staed that Hamas had "only hardened its stance, and in fact, there has been a regression in its position during the negotiations." Ceasefire and hostage deal negotiations fell apart between Israel and Hamas over two sticking points: the exchange of Palestinian prisoners for Gaza hostages and the timetable for Israel's withdrawal, CNN reported on Friday, citing a senior Hamas official. The source told CNN that Hamas had submitted two proposals regarding the sticking points shortly before Israeli and US delegates left talks early on Thursday. US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff said after the meetings that Hamas showed "a lack of desire to reach a ceasefire in Gaza." What were the sticking points? CNN reported that according to the Hamas proposal, Israel would exchange 200 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences in addition to 2,000 Gazan prisoners in exchange for 10 living hostages. In exchange for the bodies of Israeli hostages, the terror group would receive '10 corpses of Palestinians plus 50 prisoners from Gaza who were captured after October 7, and women and children under the age of 18, to be named by Hamas.' The Hamas proposal, as seen by CNN, also detailed what the terror group sought in regards to an IDF withdrawal from the Gaza Strip. In the proposal, Israel would have withdrawn 800 meters from populated areas in northern Gaza and 1,000 meters from unpopulated ones. In Rafah, the IDF would have pulled back anywhere from 700 to 1,200 meters, depending on the part of the city. 'The occupation withdraws gradually at a rate of 50 meters per week from the Philadelphi corridor,' the document said. 'On the 50th day, it will withdraw from the entire Philadelphi line.' The Jerusalem Post previously reported that another significant gap in negotiations was the delivery of humanitarian aid. 'Israel had agreed to the (US) framework for a hostage release and ceasefire, but Hamas has only hardened its stance, and in fact, there has been a regression in its position during the negotiations," an Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesperson said, according to CNN. Israeli and US negotiators have stated that they are now working on alternative ways to bring the hostages home. "Hamas is the obstacle to a hostage release deal. Together with our US allies, we are now considering alternative options to bring our hostages home, end Hamas's terror rule, and secure lasting peace for Israel and our region," said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The National
7 days ago
- Politics
- The National
US envoy Witkoff to discuss Gaza truce details with mediators in Rome
Talks set to take place on Thursday between US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, Israel's Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer and Qatar 's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani will be focused on finalising some of the details of a possible Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal, sources have told The National. Mediators have been shuttling between Israeli and Hamas negotiators in Qatar for more than two weeks but the indirect talks have so far failed to yield a truce. Hamas has confirmed it had handed over a new proposal but did not disclose its contents, and Israel has said it was studying it. The sources said one of the issues at the top of the agenda in Rome were US and Israeli guarantees that Hamas leaders who leave the enclave with their families would not be targeted in exile. They will also discuss the period of time they will need to live abroad before being able to return to Gaza. The talks will also touch on the future of Hamas's investments outside Gaza, which are believed to be centred in the Middle East, said the sources. Israel opposes the proposed release of several high-profile Palestinians held in Israeli jails as part of the deal. Hamas has also called on Israel to release the bodies of late leader Yahya Sinwar and other top officials killed by Israel during the 21-month-old war. The sources said Hamas's demand for a long-term ceasefire was no longer on the table. Instead, the US will guarantee at least one equal extension of the 60-day truce when it expires to allow for more discussions on the political and security arrangements in Gaza after the war. Hamas has already said it would not be part of governing or rebuilding Gaza and suggested it was open to laying down its arms and storing them under international supervision when a long-term ceasefire is in effect. Israel, meanwhile, was on Thursday reviewing Hamas's response to the proposed deal, according to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office. Both sides are facing huge pressure at home and abroad to reach an agreement, with the humanitarian conditions inside Gaza deteriorating sharply amid widespread acute hunger that has shocked the world. A senior Israeli official was quoted by local media as saying the new Hamas response was something Israel could work with. However, Israel's Channel 12 said a rapid deal was not in reach, with gaps remaining between the two sides including over where the Israeli army should withdraw to during any truce. A Palestinian official close to the talks told Reuters the latest Hamas position was 'flexible, positive and took into consideration the growing suffering in Gaza and the need to stop the starvation'. Bishara Bahbah, a Palestinian-American who has been part of the US mediation team, described Hamas's response as 'realistic and positive'. 'Now, Israel must enter serious and swift negotiations to reach a ceasefire. Everyone is waiting for a breakthrough. The people of Gaza have suffered so much from the killings, destruction and hunger,' he wrote on Facebook. The Gaza war was sparked when Hamas attacked southern Israel communities in October 2023, killing 1,200 and taking another 250 hostage. Israel's response has been a devastating military campaign that has to date killed close to 60,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's health ministry. Most of Gaza's estimated 2 million residents have been displaced by the war, more than once in many cases, and swathes of built-up areas have been reduced to rubble. If the latest round of negotiations yields a truce, it would be the third ceasefire since the war began. A two-month break in the fighting collapsed on March 18, when Israel resumed military operations, killing some 400 people on the first day. A week-long truce ended on December 1, 2023.
The National
23-07-2025
- Politics
- The National
Hamas agrees to a 60-day truce in partial response to latest Gaza proposals
Hamas has given mediators a partial and initial response to proposals for a Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal but was expected to shortly hand them a final reply, sources told The National on Wednesday. They said Hamas has unconditionally agreed to a 60-day truce during which sufficient humanitarian assistance will enter Gaza, chiefly through the Rafah crossing with Egypt in the south of the war-battered enclave. Hamas has also agreed in principle to most of the maps Israel presented for the redeployment of its troops in Gaza, but wants them to pull out from Deir Al Balah in central Gaza – the theatre of a major continuing military operation by Israel – as well as Khan Younis in the south, the sources said. 'Hamas is reviewing the maps with other resistance factions in Gaza,' said one of the sources. 'We expect Hamas's final and full response within hours, but that can change.' The sources spoke as President Donald Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff was expected to arrive in Europe on Thursday and Qatar on Friday, a sign that in the past has been interpreted to mean a deal was within reach. However, optimism that mediators from Qatar, Egypt and the US were on the cusp of getting Israel and Hamas to agree to a deal has previously proved premature because of the intransigence of both Israel and Hamas. Israel's President Isaac Herzog struck an upbeat note on Wednesday during a visit to Gaza, telling soldiers there were 'intensive negotiations' about returning the hostages held there. He said he hoped the soldiers will soon 'hear good news', according to a statement from the President's spokesperson. Hamas, however, is yet to provide a final list of the names of the hundreds of Palestinians it wants released from Israeli prisons as part of the deal, they said. The list is likely to include high-profile Palestinians serving long jail terms whom Hamas wants freed but Israel insists on keeping them incarcerated, they said. They include Marwan Barghouti, a senior leader of the mainstream Fatah faction who is widely tipped to be a possible successor to President Mahmoud Abbas. Hamas was also expected to provide mediators with its final timeline for the release of 10 Israeli hostages and the remains of 18 others who died in captivity, according to the sources. Hamas has previously proposed the release of the hostages in batches throughout the 60-day truce to ensure Israel's compliance with the terms of the agreement, but it appears that Israel has rejected that timeline and suggested an alternative, which Hamas is reviewing. Hamas is believed to be holding around 50 hostages, of whom 20 are thought by the Israeli military to be alive. Beside the truce and flow of relief aid into Gaza, where starvation is claiming more and more lives, the key provisions of the latest proposals include discussions on a long-term ceasefire and a full Israeli withdrawal. Hamas had wanted US guarantees that these talks would continue until an agreement is reached, but the sources said Hamas appears to have dropped that condition. Israel, moreover, insists the war in Gaza will not end until Hamas's military and governing capabilities have been fully dismantled and all the hostages released. It's also demanding that Hamas lays down its arms and its leaders leave the territory to live in exile with their families. Hamas has rejected Israel's demand that it surrenders its arms. Instead it suggested it was open to discussions on laying down its arms and storing them under international supervision when a long-term ceasefire is in place. It has agreed to the departure into exile of its leaders provided that they and their families are not targeted by Israel. The Gaza war was triggered when Hamas and its allies attacked southern Israeli communities, killing 1,200 and taking another 250 hostage. Israel's response has been a devastating military campaign that has killed nearly 60,000 Palestinians and injured more than twice that many, according to Gaza's health ministry. Nearly all the coastal enclave's 2.3 million residents have been displaced, more than once in many cases, and large swathes of built-up areas reduced to rubble.
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Israel has 'made significant strides' in Qatar talks, Hamas is curbing progress
"The flexibility and constructive approach shown by Israel in the negotiations are not matched by Hamas,' the official said. Israel has made "significant strides" in its efforts to reach a hostage deal; however, Hamas is hindering a breakthrough, an Israeli official said Friday, after 12 days of intensive negotiations in Doha, Qatar. In the early hours of Thursday morning, an updated proposal was presented to both sides by the mediators, but talks remain tense and fraught with obstacles. The official clarified that despite the difficulties, the Israeli delegation remains in Qatar. 'It's not a matter of optimism or pessimism,' the official said. 'But we must be realistic about Hamas's conduct.' According to the official, Israel remains committed to exhausting all remaining avenues within the negotiation framework, though concerns about the process are growing: 'We question Hamas's seriousness. We are approaching a critical juncture. Hamas's foot-dragging - even if it believes it serves its interests - may ultimately work against it.' A key sticking point is Hamas's refusal to proceed to discussions on the so-called 'key issue' - referring to the identity and number of Palestinian prisoners to be released in exchange for hostages - until an agreement is reached on the deployment of Israeli troops in Gaza. The parties continue to struggle over the maps that were presented. The official stressed that Israel will not return to force deployments along the January or March lines. 'There is no basis for that in any stage of the negotiations.' Netanyahu allowing considerable leeway in negotiations Israeli delegation arrived in Qatar with a broad mandate and considerable operational leeway from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the official continued. 'Netanyahu and Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer are in constant contact with the delegation. "The flexibility and constructive approach shown by Israel in the negotiations are not matched by Hamas,' the official said. In parallel, a separate humanitarian dialogue channel was opened last week in Egypt to advance humanitarian aspects of the deal. According to the official, there has been some progress on that front — but the road to an agreement remains challenging. Solve the daily Crossword
