DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) - New developments in the Gaza ceasefire negotiations emerged on Sunday, as Israel dispatched a negotiating team to Qatar in advance of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to the White House for talks aimed at reaching an agreement. Meanwhile, hospital officials reported that Israeli airstrikes had resulted in the deaths of at least 38 Palestinians within the territory.
Netanyahu stated, "There are 20 hostages that are alive, 30 dead. I am determined, we are determined, to bring them all back. And we will also be determined to ensure that Gaza will no longer pose a threat to Israel," highlighting the objective of dismantling Hamas' military and governmental authority.
A source familiar with the negotiations shared insights with The Associated Press about a ceasefire proposal submitted by mediators to Hamas, which was confirmed by two additional sources who requested anonymity. The proposal outlines a 60-day ceasefire, during which Hamas would transfer 10 living and 18 deceased hostages, Israeli forces would withdraw to a buffer zone along the Gaza-Israel and Gaza-Egypt borders, and substantial humanitarian aid would be introduced. This aid is intended to be distributed via United Nations agencies and the Palestinian Red Crescent, although the fates of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation remains ambiguous, amid Israel's insistence that it must replace the UN-coordinated aid system.
As with previous ceasefire discussions, the proposal includes the release of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the hostages, though the specific number has not been finalized. The proposal falls short of guaranteeing a permanent cessation of hostilities, a stipulation demanded by Hamas; however, it proposes that negotiations for a permanent ceasefire would commence during the initial 60 days. Notably, the document states, "President (Donald) Trump guarantees Israel's adherence" to the cessation of military operations, affirming that Trump "will personally announce the ceasefire agreement."
This personal assurance by Trump seems to be an effort to convince Hamas that Israel would not resume fighting unilaterally, which occurred in March when negotiations to extend a prior ceasefire faltered. Trump recently claimed that Israel had agreed to the terms of a 60-day ceasefire, but it remains unclear whether these align with the details disclosed to the AP. Hamas has expressed interest in some amendments to the proposal, although specifics have not been disclosed.
In a separate decision, an Israeli official announced that the security Cabinet had approved the transfer of aid into northern Gaza, an area facing severe food shortages. This information came from an unnamed official not authorized to speak publicly about the matter. The north of Gaza has seen minimal aid flow since hostilities escalated in March, with the closest distribution point for the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation situated near the Netzarim corridor, which separates northern and southern Gaza.
Israeli military strikes have targeted key locations in Gaza, reportedly killing 20 individuals and wounding 25 at two residential sites in Gaza City, as stated by Mohammed Abu Selmia, director of Shifa Hospital. Israel's military claimed to have engaged several Hamas militants across various sites in Gaza City. In Muwasi, located in southern Gaza, airstrikes resulted in an additional 18 Palestinian fatalities, impacting numerous displaced families. One individual recounted the loss of eight family members during these strikes.
Israel's military operation has claimed to have struck 130 targets across Gaza in the past 24 hours, reportedly targeting Hamas command structures, arms storage, and launch sites, allegedly eliminating a number of militants in northern Gaza.
Leading up to the indirect negotiations with Hamas in Qatar, Netanyahu's office characterized the group's demands for modifications to the ceasefire proposal as "unacceptable." However, Hamas had responded positively to the latest proposal earlier in the weekend. The militant group seeks assurances that an initial truce would lead to a comprehensive end to the conflict and an exit of Israeli forces from Gaza. Previous discussions have stalled mainly due to Hamas' demands for guarantees that subsequent negotiations would conclude the war, while Netanyahu remains firm on Israel's intention to resume military actions to secure the group's dismantlement.
The ongoing conflict began on October 7, 2023, following a Hamas assault that resulted in approximately 1,200 Israeli deaths and the kidnapping of 251 individuals. In response, Israel's military campaign has led to the deaths of over 57,000 Palestinians, as reported by Gaza's Health Ministry, with more than half of the casualties being women and children. The ministry, which operates under Hamas governance, does not differentiate between combatants and civilians, and its figures are widely regarded by international organizations as reliable statistics on war casualties.
