PM Netanyahu in ‘constant contact’ with truce negotiators in Qatar
President Trump’s Middle East visit raised hope his presence could increase the chances of a ceasefire or the resumption of humanitarian aid to starved Gaza, which Israel has prevented for more than two months.
An unnamed Israeli official told The Associated Press that Prime Minister Netanyahu is in constant contact with the negotiating team in Doha, Qatar, and US envoy Steve Witkoff, and instructed the team to remain there.
Hamas, which released an Israeli-American captive as a goodwill gesture before Trump’s trip, insists on a deal that ends the war and leads to the withdrawal of Israeli forces – something Israel said it won’t agree to.
Israel’s army said on social media it wouldn’t stop its attack on Gaza until the captives are returned and Hamas is dismantled. Israel believes as many as 23 abductees in Gaza are still alive, although Israeli authorities have expressed concern for the status of three of them.
Doha’s Gaza ceasefire talks: ‘Unlikely anything will come out of them’
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appears unstoppable in his devastating war on Gaza, an analyst says.
“He simply feels he can. He’s got the power, the equipment. There’s no one there to deter or stop him. He’s been at this for almost two years now,” said Sultan Barakat, professor of public policy at Qatar’s Hamad Bin Khalifa University.
US President Trump’s visit got Israel to send a negotiating team to Qatar for ceasefire talks, but that’s about it, Barakat told Al Jazeera.
“I don’t even understand how these talks can be justified given not just what Netanyahu is doing but the rhetoric that he and his government are spreading about future plans for Gaza. It’s difficult to see how Palestinians will come to these talks under the current circumstances. It’s unlikely anything will come out of them.”
Ben Gvir calls for full-scale Gaza occupation, dismisses ceasefire talks
Israeli far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir says Hamas’s willingness to enter a new round of ceasefire and captives talks is because Israel further increased its military pressure on the Palestinian group.
“Hamas’s sudden ‘flexibility’ in the negotiations is not because it suddenly craved peace, but because the [army] was tightening its grip,” Ben-Gvir said in a statement on X.
“Precisely for this reason this is not the time to retreat and let Hamas breathe and recover again, but to press the gas all the way – until Hamas surrenders. We must now enter Gaza with all our might and finish the job – occupying, seizing the territory, crushing the enemy, and freeing our hostages by force.”
His comments come after a new round of talks is under way in Doha, Qatar
Hamas has repeatedly expressed its willingness to reach a deal, including after Israel shattered a fragile truce in March by resuming its bombing of the enclave. But it has demanded an agreement that includes the permanent end to the war in exchange of the release of all captives.
There already was a deal, Israel broke it
That's the deal that was finally started in January 18th this year. Yet Netanyahu never wanted to proceed to Phase 2 and resumed bombing Gaza on March 18th after imposing a total blockade on all aid on March 2nd. (After repeatedly violating the ceasefire already)
Outside intervention is the only way to stop this, yet instead the West keeps backing Israel with more bombs to throw at children.
