Israel Refuses Doha Talks Despite Hamas’s Willingness to Negotiate Ceasefire
Yedioth Ahronoth reports Israeli rejection of new talks under U.S. mediation, as Hamas signals readiness for immediate negotiations to end the war in Gaza.
Watan-According to Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth, Israel has decided not to send a delegation to Doha, despite Hamas’s public declaration of readiness to negotiate based on the ceasefire proposal put forth by U.S. envoy Steve Wietkov.
Citing unnamed Israeli sources, the paper reported on Monday:“It was decided not to send a delegation to Doha following the demands made by Hamas, which are completely different from the Wietkov proposal.”
The sources claimed that “despite Hamas’s statements, there has been no real change in its position, and the core gaps remain as wide as ever.”
These statements follow Hamas’s announcement on Sunday evening expressing its immediate readiness for indirect negotiations to resolve key disagreements. The group emphasized its willingness to work toward:
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A permanent ceasefire
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Full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza
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Unhindered humanitarian aid access for civilians
Hamas’s statement came shortly after a joint Egyptian-Qatari declaration voiced hopes for a 60-day temporary truce between Hamas and Israel, potentially paving the way for a broader permanent ceasefire.
The joint statement read:“We are continuing, in coordination with the United States, to overcome obstacles in the negotiations and resolve key disagreements based on the proposal submitted by U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Wietkov.”
However, Wietkov himself said on Saturday that Hamas’s latest response was “completely unacceptable”, alleging that the proposed deal would have returned half of the surviving Israeli hostages and half of those killed, with indirect negotiations during the truce aimed at reaching a permanent ceasefire.
Hamas confirmed it had handed over its response to mediators but did not disclose details. It insisted the reply focused on three main goals:
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A complete and permanent ceasefire
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A full Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza
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The entry of humanitarian aid into the besieged territory
Hamas also reiterated its offer to release all Israeli captives in a single exchange, contingent on an end to the war, full withdrawal, and the release of Palestinian prisoners.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, currently facing an arrest warrant request from the International Criminal Court, has reportedly rejected Hamas’s terms, insisting on partial deals and introducing new demands, including the disarmament of Palestinian factions. According to the Israeli opposition, Netanyahu’s continued escalation reflects his political interest in prolonging the war to maintain power.
