Netanyahu announces sending a delegation to Doha to negotiate the Gaza agreement, and Hamas talks about positive indicators

Israel announced on Saturday evening that it will send a delegation to Doha to negotiate a ceasefire agreement in Gaza, while the Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas spoke of positive indications for the return of talks on the second phase of the agreement, to which Israel had suspended its commitment.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said that the prime minister will send a delegation to Doha on Monday in an attempt to advance ceasefire negotiations.

Earlier, Hebrew media reported that Netanyahu will tonight assess the situation regarding the prisoner exchange deal negotiations with Hamas, and will hold a meeting of the Security Cabinet tomorrow, Sunday.

The Israeli Broadcasting Corporation quoted informed sources as saying that in light of the stagnation of negotiations, the Israeli political level instructed the army to prepare immediately to return to fighting, but an Israeli security source warned that returning to fighting would put the lives of prisoners at risk.

Hamas: There are positive indicators

Hamas spokesman Abdul Latif Al-Qanou said, "The efforts of Egyptian and Qatari mediators are continuing to complete the implementation of the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip and begin the second phase negotiations," noting that "the indicators are positive towards that."

He stressed - in a press statement - Hamas's readiness "to enter into the second phase of negotiations in a way that achieves the demands of our people," calling for "intensifying efforts to provide relief to the Gaza Strip and lift the siege on our afflicted people."

He explained that the movement's leadership delegation, which has been in Cairo since yesterday, is discussing ways to start the second phase negotiations, oblige the Israeli occupation to do so, and mechanisms for implementing the outcomes of the Arab Summit.

American initiative

The Israeli Broadcasting Corporation revealed a new American initiative to release 10 living Israeli prisoners in the Gaza Strip, in exchange for extending the ceasefire for several months without specifying a precise time frame.

In a maneuver to avoid the second phase of the ceasefire agreement, which stipulates an end to the war on Gaza, Benjamin Netanyahu's government, according to observers, is playing a game of exchanging roles with Washington by talking about initiatives put forward by the latter, despite it being the mediator and guarantor of the agreement.

All the initiatives, which have not been officially confirmed by Washington, revolve around extending the first phase of the agreement to release the largest possible number of Israeli prisoners without a final cessation of the war, in line with Netanyahu's desire to please the extreme right within his government.

In this context, the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation quoted unnamed informed sources as saying that regional mediators (Egypt and Qatar) are awaiting the visit of Steve Witkoff, former US President Donald Trump's envoy to the region, which may take place in the coming days.

According to the sources, Witkov will carry an American initiative to release 10 Israeli prisoners held by Hamas, in exchange for extending the ceasefire for several months, without specifying a precise time frame.

She added that the negotiations will be held directly between the United States and Hamas, without Israeli interference.

Last Sunday, the first phase of the 42-day ceasefire agreement in Gaza ended, while Israel evaded entering the second phase, which includes ending the war.

Hamas affirms its commitment to implementing the agreement that entered into force on January 19, 2025, and demands that Israel abide by all its provisions, calling on the mediators to immediately begin negotiations for the second phase, which includes an Israeli withdrawal from the Strip and a complete cessation of the war.

With American support, Israel committed genocide in Gaza between October 7, 2023 and January 19, 2025, leaving more than 160,000 Palestinians dead and wounded, most of them children and women, and more than 14,000 missing.

Source: Yemen Youth Net + Agencies