Arab media claims hostage deal mediators are rushing to reach agreement before Gaza City takeover
Other talks for a ceasefire plan include White House special envoy Steve Witkoff meeting with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman al-Thani.
Mediators for a hostage and ceasefire deal are rushing to reach an agreement ahead of Israel’s operation that would take over Gaza City, Asharq News reported on Saturday, citing informed sources.
The Saudi-based news source cited sources claiming there are talks discussing a package of proposals to end the war, which includes the release of the remaining 50 hostages and a complete IDF withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.
The discussions also mentioned the exile of some Hamas military wing leaders and the establishment of a technocratic government to manage the Strip, supported by a police force.
The sources claimed that the mediators, who comprise US, Egyptian, and Qatari officials, have begun discussing these proposals with each other before conveying them to the two sides. The sources claimed there’s a possibility of an agreement. The sources made additional claims, such as Hamas showing flexibility to reach an agreement.
Witkoff, Qatar PM to discuss new Gaza ceasefire plan
White House special envoy Steve Witkoff was set to meet with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman al-Thani on Saturday to discuss plans for the end of the Gaza war, Axios reported, citing two sources familiar with the upcoming meeting.
WOMEN WAGE PEACE holds a demonstration, calling for a hostage deal and an end to the Israel-Hamas War. The Israeli government can continue to fear recognition of a Palestinian state, or it can choose to embrace this opportunity, says the writer. (credit: WOMEN WAGE PEACE)
Witkoff and al-Thani were reportedly going to discuss plans to end the war in Gaza and release the remaining 50 hostages, less than half of whom are presumed to be alive after over 650 days in Hamas captivity.
The source said the pair would formulate a plan to propose to Israel and Hamas in the next two weeks.
An Israeli official stressed that Jerusalem would have no issue making a new deal, but expressed skepticism that Hamas would accept an agreement.
Our war is with Hamas, not with the US,” the official said. “The gap between Israel and Hamas regarding ending the war is huge, so talking of a comprehensive deal is likely to be pointless at this stage.”
Hamas’s disarmament holds up Qatar-Egypt proposal
The meeting between Witkoff and al-Thani followed discussions between Qatar and Egypt on a new ceasefire-hostage deal proposal.
The Egypt-Qatar proposal would see the release of all hostages, both living and deceased, at once, in return for an end to the war and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip, The Associated Press reported on Friday, citing two Arab officials.
One of the issues holding up the Egypt-Qatar plan is reportedly Hamas’s disarmament. Current discussions center around “freezing” Hamas’s weaponry so that it can hold on to it but not use it. It also calls for Hamas to relinquish its power over Gaza.
The new framework proposes having a Palestinian-Arab committee run Gaza and oversee reconstruction efforts until a new Palestinian administration with a police force is established.
Hamas said on Thursday that the terror group would treat any force formed to govern Gaza as an “occupying” force linked to Israel.
