Negotiations for a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release are set to resume in Doha, with an Israeli delegation traveling to Qatar on Sunday. While it’s unclear if Hamas will participate, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken highlighted the potential for an agreement following the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, suggesting it could facilitate the release of hostages and broader objectives.
A senior Palestinian official confirmed that a Hamas delegation is engaging with Egyptian intelligence to address the escalating situation in Gaza, while high-level Egyptian security leaders are also in talks with Hamas in Cairo.
Qatar’s Foreign Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdurrahman Al Thani, noted recent re-engagement with Hamas, although the group’s plans for ceasefire discussions remain uncertain.
Previous ceasefire discussions centered around a proposal from President Biden that included a six-week ceasefire, a humanitarian aid surge, and a potential exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners. However, talks faltered over Netanyahu’s insistence on maintaining an Israeli military presence along the Gaza-Egypt border.
Blinken, on his eleventh Middle East visit since the conflict began, announced an additional $135 million in humanitarian aid, bringing total U.S. assistance since the war started to approximately $1.2 billion.
