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'Israel' sends delegation to Qatar amid Gaza ceasefire talks: Reuters

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
5 Jul 2025 22:47

"Israel" will dispatch a delegation to Qatar for Gaza ceasefire negotiations amid Hamas’ constructive response to a proposal involving truce, withdrawals, and prisoner exchange.

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Smoke rises from Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip, seen from southern occupied Palestine, Thursday, July 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

"Israel" is sending a delegation to Qatar for negotiations over a potential Gaza ceasefire and prisoner-captive exchange deal, according to Reuters, citing an Israeli official. The delegation is expected to arrive in Doha on Sunday.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, noted the sensitivity of the ongoing talks.

On Friday, July 4, Hamas submitted its formal response to the updated ceasefire proposal brokered by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt. Palestinian officials described the reply as "constructive," indicating it could help pave the way toward a final agreement to end "Israel's" war on Gaza.

The proposal, reportedly rooted in the Witkoff Plan, outlines a 60-day truce, phased withdrawals of Israeli occupation forces from Gaza, the exchange of Palestinian captives and remains, and continued negotiations to secure a permanent resolution.

Hamas has made it clear that any agreement must include a complete halt to Israeli aggression, full military withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, and unrestricted humanitarian access. These demands, according to Hamas, are essential to achieving justice and upholding Palestinian self-determination.

The proposed ceasefire would see a phased release of captives held by the Resistance, beginning with 8 live captives on the first day and additional releases on days 50 and 60, alongside the return of 18 bodies. In exchange, "Israel" would begin withdrawing its forces from northern and southern Gaza under UN and Red Crescent oversight. Technical teams would work on boundary demarcations, while humanitarian aid would begin flowing immediately.

Longer-term arrangements, set to begin on day one of the truce, include defining terms for further prisoner exchanges, negotiating a permanent ceasefire, determining Gaza's future security framework, and establishing international guarantees. Mediators would ensure compliance and could extend the truce if substantial progress is made.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump welcomed what he described as a “positive spirit” in Hamas’s response to a proposed Gaza ceasefire deal, suggesting that a breakthrough could be imminent.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Friday, Trump said, “It’s good that Hamas said it had responded in a positive spirit.” He noted that a deal could be reached “by next week,” though he admitted he had not yet been briefed on the current state of negotiations.