Gaza Truce Extension at Stake as Israeli and Hamas Negotiators Meet in Qatar

Haaretz
Israeli Negotiators Head to Qatar for U.S.-mediated Talks to Resume Hamas Truce

The direct talks that took place between Trump's hostage envoy and Hamas in recent days express, to a great extent, the U.S. administration's lack of trust in Netanyahu and the ability of Qatar and Egypt to lead the talks to an understanding. The Israeli negotiating team is expected to leave for Qatar on Monday for the renewal of talks with Hamas on the continuation of the next stage of the Gaza cease-fire agreement.

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Haaretz
RTÉ
Israeli team due in Qatar for Gaza ceasefire talks

Israel is due to send a delegation to Doha for a fresh round of talks on extending a fragile ceasefire in Gaza, after cutting off the electricity supply to ramp up pressure on Hamas. The first phase of the truce ended on 1 March with no agreement on subsequent stages that could secure a permanent end to the war, but both sides have since refrained from resuming full-scale fighting. There are still significant differences over the terms of a potential second phase of the truce, which has largely halted the violence that raged since Hamas's 7 October 2023 attack on Israel. Hamas has repeatedly called for immediate negotiations on the next phase, while Israel prefers an extension of the current one.

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RTÉ
Newsmax
Israeli Negotiators Head to Qatar for Gaza Truce Talks

Hamas said Monday it is showing flexibility in talks with mediators and is awaiting the outcome of efforts from Egypt, Qatar, and the United States in negotiations with Israel. Israel is sending a delegation to Qatar on Monday for a fresh round of talks on extending a fragile ceasefire in Gaza, after cutting off the electricity supply to ramp up pressure on Hamas. The first phase of the deal expired at the beginning of March with no agreement on subsequent stages that should secure a lasting end to the war that erupted with Hamas' Oct.7, 2023 attack on Israel.

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Israeli negotiators head to Qatar for Gaza truce talks
Israeli negotiators head to Qatar for Gaza truce talks. First phase of the truce ended on March 1 with no agreement on subsequent stages that could secure a permanent end to the war. Both sides have since refrained from resuming full-scale fighting. Israel has halted aid deliveries to Gaza amid the deadlock.
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Israeli Team Heads To Qatar For Gaza Truce Talks
Israel's negotiating team left for Qatar Monday for talks aimed at extending the fragile Gaza ceasefire after the authorities cut the Palestinian territory's electricity supply to ramp up pressure on Hamas.
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Israeli negotiators head to Qatar for Gaza truce talks
Israel is due to send a delegation to Doha on Monday for a fresh round of talks on extending a fragile ceasefire in Gaza, after cutting off the electricity supply to ramp up pressure on Hamas.The first phase of the truce ended on March 1 with no agreement on subsequent stages that could secure a permanent end to the war, but both sides have since refrained from resuming full-scale fighting.There are still significant differences over the terms of a potential second phase of the truce, which has largely halted the violence that raged since Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.Hamas has repeatedly called for immediate negotiations on the next phase, while Israel prefers an extension of the current one.Israel has halted aid deliveries to Gaza amid the deadlock, and on Sunday announced it was cutting off the electricity supply in a bid to force Hamas to release hostages."We will use all the tools at our disposal to bring back the hostages and ensure that Hamas is no longer in Gaza the day after" the war, Energy Minister Eli Cohen said as he ordered the power cut.The move echoed the early days of the war when Israel announced a "siege" on Gaza, severing the electricity supply which was only restored in mid-2024.The sole power line between Israel and Gaza supplies the Palestinian territory's main desalination plant, and Gazans now mainly rely on solar panels and fuel-powered generators to produce electricity.Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians are now living in tents across Gaza, where temperatures reach a low of about 12 degrees Celsius (54 Fahrenheit) at night.Top Hamas official Izzat al-Rishq said the Israeli decision "to cut off electricity to Gaza, after depriving it of food, medicine, and water" was a "desperate attempt to pressure our people and their resistance".- 'Long-term truce' -Hamas has repeatedly demanded that the second phase of the truce -- brokered by Qatar, Egypt and the United States -- would include a comprehensive hostage-prisoner exchange, a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, a permanent ceasefire, and the reopening of border crossings to end the blockade.Spokesman Hazem Qassem told AFP that Hamas wanted the mediators to ensure Israel "complies with the agreement... and proceeds with the second phase according to the agreed-upon terms".Former US president Joe Biden had outlined a second phase involving hostage release and the withdrawal of all Israeli forces left in Gaza.Hamas representatives met mediators in Cairo over the weekend, a Hamas statement said.US envoy Adam Boehler, who held unprecedented direct talks with Hamas officials in recent days, said on Sunday that a deal could be reached "within weeks" to secure all remaining hostages.Of the 251 hostages taken during the October 7 attack, 58 are still held in Gaza, including 34 the Israeli military has confirmed dead.Boehler told CNN there could be "a deal where they can get all of the prisoners out, not just the Americans".There are five Israeli-US nationals among the hostages, four of whom have been confirmed dead.On CNN, the US envoy said a "long-term truce" was "real close", while in an interview with Israel's Channel 12 that aired later on Sunday, he said Washington would back any Israeli decision, including a return to war.- 'Nothing available' -In late February, US President Donald Trump had issued what he called a "last warning" to Hamas, threatening further destruction if the group does not release all remaining hostages.An earlier proposal from Trump to expel Palestinians from Gaza prompted Arab leaders to offer an alternative reconstruction plan without displacement.The initial phase of the truce, which began on January 19, reduced hostilities after more than 15 months of relentless fighting that displaced nearly all of Gaza's 2.4 million people.During this period, 25 living Israeli hostages and eight bodies were exchanged for the release of about 1,800 Palestinians in Israeli custody.The truce also allowed in much-needed food, shelter and medical assistance.After Israel cut off the aid flow on March 2, UN rights experts accused the government of "weaponising starvation".At a UN distribution of flour in Jabalia, northern Gaza, Abu Mahmoud Salman, 56, said that with the territory now closed off from fresh supplies, "there is nothing available"."The markets are empty... prices are high, and there is no income. The situation in Gaza is difficult," he told AFP.Hamas's 2023 attack resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people on the Israeli side, most of them civilians, while Israel's retaliatory campaign has killed at least 48,458 people in Gaza, also mostly civilians, according to data from both sides.jd/acc/ami/tc
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Israel to Send Negotiating Team to Qatar Amid Ceasefire Talks
The Times of Israel is a news agency based in New York City. It was founded in 1858. It is run by a group called The Times ofIsrael. The group was established to promote the publication of news in the English language. It has since expanded to include news from all parts of the world.
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Israeli Negotiating Team Heading to Doha in Attempt to Advance Ceasefire Talks
Israel will send a delegation to Doha on Monday in an attempt to advance the Gaza ceasefire talks following an invitation from mediators.
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Israel sending delegation to Qatar as it cuts electricity to Gaza
TEL AVIV, Israel — An Israeli delegation will travel to the Gulf state of Qatar on Monday to hold talks on the continuation of the fragile ceasefire in the Gaza
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