Hamas reportedly seeks assurances that the proposed truce will lead to a permanent end to hostilities and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.
Israel has dismissed the changes Hamas wants to make to a proposed Gaza ceasefire agreement, but has agreed to continue indirect negotiations in Doha, according to a statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office reported by Israeli media.
A negotiating team is scheduled to travel to Qatar on Sunday to continue discussions with Hamas.
Last week, US President Donald Trump announced what he called a “final proposal” for a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza, expressing hope for quick acceptance from both sides. Hamas responded on Friday, stating it was approaching the proposal “in a positive spirit” and was “fully prepared” to immediately engage in new talks to implement the ceasefire framework, but suggested revisions. According to a source involved in mediation, Hamas is seeking guarantees that discussions on a permanent ceasefire will continue during the 60-day pause, the full restoration of UN aid (rather than the US- and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation), and the withdrawal of Israeli forces to positions held before March.
“The changes that Hamas wants to implement to the Qatari proposal were delivered to us last night and are unacceptable to Israel,” Netanyahu’s office said. The specific demands that were rejected were not detailed. The statement added that Netanyahu has still instructed his team to attend further talks in Qatar.
The prime minister is also scheduled to meet with Trump in Washington on Monday to discuss Gaza, Iran, and other regional concerns.
On Friday, Trump told reporters that he was “optimistic” that an agreement could be reached. The current draft reportedly includes a provision for Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, to visit the region to finalize the deal.
West Jerusalem has consistently refused any agreement that would leave Hamas in control of Gaza. A previous hostage-truce agreement in January outlined a three-phase process that would end with a permanent ceasefire and complete Israeli withdrawal, but it fell apart in March after Israel declined to begin talks on ending the war.
Netanyahu repeated his demands last week: Hamas must surrender, disarm, and leave Gaza – conditions the group continues to reject.
The conflict was triggered by Hamas’ October 2023 attack on southern Israel, which resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths, mostly civilians, and the capture of 250 hostages. Of those, 50 remain in Gaza, and fewer than half are believed to be alive. According to the Hamas-run Health Ministry, Israel’s military response has killed at least 57,000 people in Gaza, predominantly civilians, over the past 21 months.
On Saturday, families of the hostages held demonstrations across Israel, urging the government to finalize a ceasefire. Social media videos showed crowds marching in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Haifa, and Be’er Sheva, calling for an end to the war and the release of the hostages.
צעדת המחאה בירושלים צועדת בקינג ג’ורג’
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