Good Progress:
Qatar’s prime minister reported “good progress” after a meeting in Paris between intelligence officials from Egypt, Israel, and the United States. The discussions centered on a potential deal to secure a truce in the Israel-Hamas war and the release of captives held by Palestinian groups in Gaza. The three countries, leading negotiations since the war’s onset on October 7, are working towards agreements to halt the fighting.
Potential Deal:
In discussions, Qatar’s prime minister confirmed consideration of a potential phased truce. The proposed plan involves the release of women and children first, along with the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza. The prime minister expressed hopes to present this proposal to Hamas, seeking their positive and constructive engagement in the process.
Hamas had initially demanded a permanent ceasefire as a precondition for negotiations, but progress has been made towards a potential future permanent ceasefire, according to the Qatari prime minister. He noted that the current talks are in a much improved state compared to a few weeks ago.
Total Hostages:
Hamas seized around 240 hostages on October 7, launching a surprise attack from Gaza into southern Israel, resulting in at least 1,139 deaths according to Israeli figures. In response, Israel conducted a devastating bombardment and ground invasion of Gaza, leading to more than 26,600 casualties, as reported by Palestinian health officials.
Qatar and the US led negotiations
Qatar, alongside the US, spearheaded negotiations for a weeklong truce in late November. The truce resulted in the release of over 100 captives by Palestinian groups in Gaza. In exchange, more than 200 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons were released.
Pressure on Benjamin Netanyahu
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces mounting pressure on multiple fronts. Families of captives demand a deal for their return. While some in his ruling coalition advocate for an escalation of the war. The US, a key ally, has criticized Israel over the civilian death toll in Gaza.
Last week, Netanyahu rejected a Hamas proposal to end the war and release captives in exchange for withdrawing Israeli forces, releasing prisoners, and accepting Hamas’s governance of Gaza. He argued accepting these conditions would leave Hamas intact, and Israel’s soldiers would have fallen in vain. Netanyahu has consistently advocated for a maximum pressure campaign to compel Hamas to release all captives. In response to claims by Netanyahu that Qatar failed to use its leverage, the Qatari prime minister clarified that Qatar is not a superpower capable of imposing conditions on a party.
Using Good Offices:
Doha is the host of Hamas’s political office and serves as the main residence for senior political official Ismail Haniyeh. The Qatari prime minister stated, “We are using our good offices to connect, bridge gaps, to come up with some alternatives.” He referred to the effectiveness of this approach in previous mediations facilitated by Qatar.
