Asger Risom
Netanyahu calls it “last effort” before planned escalation
Israel will dispatch a negotiating team to Doha on Tuesday to hold indirect talks with Hamas aimed at securing a ceasefire in Gaza.
The decision comes after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee.
The discussions focused on Witkoff’s proposal to extend the initial phase of a ceasefire deal, rather than advancing to the next stage as outlined in the original framework, according to 20minutos.
Israel threatens to expand operations if no deal is reached
Netanyahu’s office emphasized that Israel will negotiate “under fire,” with military operations in Gaza continuing during the talks.
The Israeli military is reportedly mobilizing thousands of reservists for a potential ground expansion of its operations in the Palestinian enclave.
The U.S. proposal suggests extending the current ceasefire by several weeks, during which Hamas would release about half of the surviving hostages—24 people according to Israeli authorities, although the condition of three remains uncertain.
Hamas to release American-Israeli hostage as goodwill gesture
Hamas announced that it would release Edan Alexander, the last living U.S. citizen held captive in Gaza, as part of the ongoing indirect negotiations with Washington. Alexander, an Israeli-American soldier, is expected to be freed Monday afternoon.
The gesture comes without conditions and is seen as a move to facilitate further dialogue toward halting hostilities in Gaza.
Following the announcement, Netanyahu thanked U.S. President Donald Trump for his role in securing Alexander’s release.
The two leaders also spoke by phone, with Trump reaffirming Washington’s commitment to close cooperation with Israel as he prepares for an upcoming Middle East tour, which will include stops in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.