Israel sending negotiators to Qatar to resume Gaza ceasefire talks middleeasteye.net

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has approved a delegation to resume Gaza ceasefire negotiations in Doha, Qatar, even as Israel continues to rule out a permanent end to the war, according to reports.

"Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has approved the professional-level delegation of the Mossad (spy agency), the IDF (military) and the ISA (internal security agency) to continue the negotiations in Doha," the statement from Netanyahu’s office said on Thursday.

Hamas and Israel were in negotiations in December to reach a ceasefire deal, but the Palestinian group accused Israeli negotiators of putting forward "new conditions" that delayed reaching a deal.

Israel rebuffed those accusations, saying it was Hamas that was creating "new obstacles" to an agreement.

Earlier this week, The Wall Street Journal reported that Hamas had dropped one of its key demands that a ceasefire lead to a permanent end to the war in Gaza, creating the pathway for a potential truce that would pause fighting and allow for the release of hostages in return for Palestinian prisoners.

But the WSJ said Israel demanded it receive only living hostages in any exchange and refused to approve the release of some of the Palestinian prisoners requested by Hamas.

The US and Israel have long insisted Hamas is an obstacle to a ceasefire, but analysts and regional officials say Netanyahu has shown little interest in striking an agreement.

Throughout 2024, the US insisted that the late Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar was the main obstacle to a ceasefire. However, more than two months after Sinwar was killed in a firefight with Israeli soldiers, a ceasefire remains just as elusive.