Israeli media reported that the Israeli government has decided to dispatch a negotiation delegation to Doha, Qatar, to discuss the details of a proposed ceasefire agreement in Gaza and a potential prisoner exchange, following a formal response from the Palestinian resistance group Hamas.
A senior Israeli official told Channel 12 that the decision to send the delegation had been finalized, while Israel’s public broadcaster said the team is expected to depart as early as Sunday.
According to the broadcaster, Israel has not outright rejected Hamas’s response and believes there is a foundation for further negotiations. This development comes amid intense internal discussions in Israel, ahead of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s scheduled visit to Washington on Sunday morning.
The Israeli security cabinet (the “kitchen cabinet”) is set to convene Saturday evening to review and discuss the proposal, following Hamas’s announcement on Friday that it had submitted a response described as “positive” to the mediators.
Haaretz newspaper reported that the cabinet meeting is scheduled for 10 p.m. local time (7 p.m. GMT) to evaluate the terms of the ceasefire and the broader implications for the ongoing war in Gaza.
Key Terms of the Proposal and Hamas’s Demands
While official details of the proposal remain undisclosed, Israeli media suggested that the deal involves the release of 10 living Israeli captives and the return of 18 bodies, to be carried out in five stages over a 60-day ceasefire period.
According to Israel’s public broadcaster, Hamas has laid out three primary demands to amend the agreement:
- A return to the previous model for distributing humanitarian aid.
- An extension of the ceasefire beyond 60 days if negotiations continue, opposing Israel’s position that a lapse without a deal allows a resumption of hostilities.
- A clear and verifiable withdrawal of Israeli forces from areas they currently occupy inside the Gaza Strip.
The proposal reportedly includes the release of eight living Israeli captives on the first day of the ceasefire and two more on the 50th day. In return, Israel would release a large number of Palestinian prisoners and gradually withdraw its troops from agreed-upon areas within Gaza.
Tel Aviv estimates that 50 Israeli captives remain in Gaza, around 20 of whom are believed to be alive. Meanwhile, thousands of Palestinians remain in Israeli prisons, many under dire conditions involving torture, starvation, and medical neglect, according to Israeli and Palestinian human rights reports.
Families of Captives Demand Immediate Action
Families of Israeli captives held in Gaza have called for mass protests, demanding a comprehensive agreement to secure the release of all captives. During a demonstration in Tel Aviv, representatives of the families accused the Netanyahu government of causing the deaths of several hostages due to its policies and insisted that the remaining captives be returned immediately.
“We urge the public to take to the streets and pressure the Netanyahu government to finalize a full-scale deal and end the war,” the families stated, also appealing to U.S. President Donald Trump to prevent “forces of evil in Israel” from prolonging the conflict.
A large demonstration is expected Saturday night in what is now known as “Hostage Square” in central Tel Aviv.
Netanyahu to Meet Trump in Washington
Prime Minister Netanyahu is scheduled to leave for Washington on Sunday morning to meet U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday, according to Israeli media.
Yedioth Ahronoth cited unnamed Israeli officials who said that Trump might announce a breakthrough in the ceasefire negotiations during the meeting.
Speaking to reporters, Trump said, “We might reach a ceasefire agreement in Gaza this week, although I haven’t seen the latest updates on the talks.” He described Hamas’s “positive response” to the proposal as a “good sign.”
Regional Diplomacy and Reconstruction Efforts
In a related development, Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Foreign Minister Badr Abdel Aty held a phone call with U.S. envoy Steve Weitekamp to discuss progress in the ceasefire talks, the release of hostages and prisoners, and the full delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza.
They also discussed preparations for indirect negotiations between the parties and the upcoming international conference on early recovery and reconstruction in Gaza, to be held once a ceasefire is achieved.
Unprecedented Humanitarian Catastrophe in Gaza
Since the beginning of Israel’s military campaign in October 2023, Gaza has suffered devastating losses. Over 57,000 Palestinians have been killed, more than 135,000 injured, and nearly the entire population of the Strip displaced. The destruction has been described by Palestinian and international organizations as unmatched since World War II.
