US-Gaza ceasefire negotiations intensify amid Trump-Netanyahu split
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Hamas confirms direct talks with US on Gaza ceasefire and aid, as pressure mounts on "Israel" and mediators to reach a sustainable truce agreement.
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A boy holds an empty pot over his head as he waits for donated food at a community kitchen in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip, Friday, May 9, 2025 (AP)
A senior Palestinian official confirmed on Sunday that the Hamas Resistance movement is engaged in discussions with the US administration over a potential ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the entry of humanitarian aid into the besieged enclave.
According to the official, who spoke to Reuters, the talks mark a rare direct channel of communication between Hamas and Washington, reflecting growing international pressure to halt the months-long aggression on Gaza and alleviate the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding on the ground.
A Hamas official also told AFP that direct talks have taken place in recent days in the Qatari capital, Doha, between representatives of the Palestinian Resistance group and American officials. The official stated that “progress has been made toward a ceasefire in Gaza,” while noting that negotiations were ongoing.
Possible shifting dynamics
In parallel, Israeli media reported that mounting pressure on both Hamas and mediators, namely Qatar and Egypt, could shift the dynamics of ongoing talks regarding a potential prisoner exchange. However, these outlets cautioned that such pressure may not necessarily result in a comprehensive agreement.
The developments come just days after the US envoy to "Israel" announced that an American mechanism to deliver humanitarian assistance to Gaza would be operational “soon,” as Washington seeks to demonstrate leadership in addressing the escalating humanitarian crisis. Previously, US officials also held direct discussions with Hamas over the release of American captives held in Gaza.
This wave of diplomacy takes place amid increasing strain between US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. According to American media outlets, Trump is pushing for a comprehensive ceasefire in Gaza as a prerequisite for launching a reconstruction plan for the devastated Strip. Netanyahu, by contrast, has proceeded with a renewed military offensive, which Trump has reportedly dismissed as “a wasted effort.”
'Israel' offering insufficient proposals
A senior Palestinian Resistance figure told Al Mayadeen last week that current talks between "Israel" and Egyptian and Qatari mediators are centered solely around the Israeli proposal, which fails to guarantee an end to the war. The official clarified that Hamas has rejected the proposal, viewing it as insufficient and unilateral, and stressed that the Israeli regime has not presented any alternatives for negotiation.
Moreover, the Resistance leader warned that "Israel" is threatening to expand its ground invasion should Hamas continue to reject the current proposal, escalating fears of further bloodshed in an already ravaged Gaza Strip.
Despite increasing diplomatic engagement, including rare direct US-Hamas talks, the path to a sustainable ceasefire remains obstructed by entrenched positions, with Hamas demanding a full halt to aggression and "Israel" refusing to commit to such terms. The outcome of these negotiations may also be influenced by the growing rift between Washington and Tel Aviv, as each pursues sharply divergent strategies for the postwar phase.
Clinging to Gaza proposal
The United States and "Israel" have held preliminary talks regarding Washington overseeing a transitional post-war government in Gaza, according to five sources familiar with the discussions, Reuters reported.
According to the sources, these "high-level" conversations have centered on establishing a transitional governing body led by a US official to run Gaza during a time of demilitarization and stability until a genuine Palestinian government can take control.
While no specific schedule has been established, the duration of a prospective US-led government would be determined by the situation on the ground, they noted.
Some have compared the idea, which is still in its early stages, to the Coalition Provisional Authority formed by the United States to rule Iraq following the 2003 invasion of the country and the fall of Saddam Hussein.
Rejecting temporary truce
The news comes as Netanyahu announced Monday that "Israel" would intensify its operations in Gaza and attempt the forcible transfer of the residents of Gaza.
On Friday, the Israeli newspaper Israel Hayom reported that "Israel insists on expanding its military operations" in the Palestinian enclave.
The newspaper added that "Israel" "informed mediators of its rejection of the proposed ceasefire in Gaza and its withdrawal from the conditions that had been agreed upon in recent days."
According to Israel Hayom, "Israel expressed its desire to maintain its military presence inside the Strip until the end of the year and to expand the scope of its military operation."
