Axios reported that Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani met with senior Hamas officials in Doha on Tuesday to seek a breakthrough in negotiations regarding a hostage agreement and ceasefire. According to Axios, the Qatari Prime Minister is pressing Hamas to bridge the gap between the movement's proposal and the Israeli proposal.
Days ago, U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan stated that mediators from Egypt and Qatar plan to communicate with Hamas leaders soon to explore the possibility of advancing the ceasefire proposal in Gaza put forth by President Joe Biden.
A senior member of the Israeli negotiating team, which is trying to secure a deal for the release of prisoners, indicated that the war will not end with a halt to attacks on Rafah, adding, according to Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth, "Israel has seen, whether in the recent agreement or in the last decade with other prisoners, that Hamas is not bound by agreements. We must ensure there are pressure tools in place to enforce the agreement. We need clear certainty that Hamas will not quickly change the terms of the deal."
Regarding the latest Israeli offer to Hamas, unveiled by President Joe Biden earlier this month, the source stated that "there will be no negotiations on another plan, and there is no factor that can change Biden's plan, which was accepted by the UN Security Council," emphasizing the need to secure guarantees that Hamas will not alter the terms of the "Biden deal."
