Israel will dispatch a delegation to Qatar on Sunday to negotiate a potential Gaza cease-fire and hostage release deal, an Israeli official confirmed on Saturday.
The move follows a statement from Hamas on Friday, saying it had responded to a U.S.-backed truce proposal “in a positive spirit.” Earlier in the week, President Donald Trump said Israel had agreed to “the necessary conditions to finalise” a 60-day cease-fire.
Despite this progress, a Palestinian official allied with Hamas said unresolved issues include the flow of humanitarian aid, access through the Rafah crossing, and a clear timeline for Israeli troop withdrawal.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who will meet President Trump in Washington on Monday, has not publicly addressed Hamas’ response. He maintains that Hamas must be disarmed, a demand the group continues to reject.
The conflict began on October 7, 2023, with a Hamas attack that killed 1,200 people and led to 251 hostages. Gaza’s health ministry reports over 57,000 Palestinians killed in Israel’s military response.