By AFP
DOHA: Hamas and Israel were resuming talks in Qatar on Monday, a Palestinian official said, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu travelled to Washington to meet President Donald Trump, who has pushed for a 鈥渄eal this week鈥 between the foes.
The latest round of negotiations on the war in Gaza began on Sunday in Doha, aiming to broker a ceasefire and reach an agreement on the release of hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.
鈥淚ndirect negotiations are scheduled to take place before noon today in Doha between the Hamas and Israeli delegations to continue discussions鈥 on the proposal, a Palestinian official familiar with the negotiations told AFP.
Ahead of Netanyahu鈥檚 third visit since Trump鈥檚 return to office this year, the US president said there was a 鈥済ood chance鈥 of reaching an agreement.
鈥淲e鈥檝e gotten a lot of the hostages out, but pertaining to the remaining hostages, quite a few of them will be coming out,鈥 he told journalists.
Netanyahu, speaking before heading to Washington, said his meeting with Trump could 鈥渄efinitely help advance this鈥 deal.
The US president is pushing for a truce in the Gaza Strip, plunged into a humanitarian crisis after nearly two years of war.
Gaza truce talks to resume in Doha before Netanyahu heads to US
Netanyahu said he dispatched the team to Doha with 鈥渃lear instructions鈥 to reach an agreement 鈥渦nder the conditions that we have agreed to鈥.
He previously said Hamas鈥檚 response to a draft US-backed ceasefire proposal, conveyed through Qatari and Egyptian mediators, contained 鈥渦nacceptable鈥 demands.
鈥業mportant mission鈥
Two Palestinian sources close to the discussions had earlier told AFP the proposal included a 60-day truce, during which Hamas would release 10 living hostages and several bodies in exchange for Palestinians detained by Israel.
However, they said, the group was also demanding certain conditions for Israel鈥檚 withdrawal, guarantees against a resumption of fighting during negotiations, and the return of the UN-led aid distribution system.
Netanyahu has an 鈥渋mportant mission鈥 in Washington, 鈥渁dvancing a deal to bring all our hostages home鈥, said Israeli President Isaac Herzog.
Gaza civil defence says 12 killed by Israeli forces
Trump is not scheduled to meet the Israeli premier until 6:30 pm (2230 GMT) Monday, the White House said, without the usual presence of journalists.
Of the 251 hostages taken by Palestinian during the 2023 attack, 49 are still being held in Gaza, including 27 the Israeli military says are dead.
Recent efforts to broker a new truce have repeatedly failed, with the primary point of contention being Israel鈥檚 rejection of Hamas鈥檚 demand for a lasting ceasefire.
鈥楨nough blood鈥
In Gaza, the territory鈥檚 civil defence agency reported 12 people killed in gunfire or strikes on Monday. AFP has contacted the Israeli military for comment.
Hamas says ready to start Gaza ceasefire talks 鈥榠mmediately鈥
鈥淲e are losing young people, families and children every day, and this must stop now,鈥 Gaza resident Osama al-Hanawi told AFP.
鈥淓nough blood has been shed.鈥
Media restrictions in Gaza and difficulties in accessing many areas mean AFP is unable to independently verify the tolls and details provided by the civil defense agency.
Hundreds killed seeking aid
The war has created dire humanitarian conditions for the more than two million people in the Gaza Strip.
A US- and Israel-backed group, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), took the lead in food distribution in the territory in late May, when Israel partially lifted a more than two-month blockade on aid deliveries.
But its operations have had a chaotic rollout, with repeated reports of aid seekers killed near its facilities while awaiting rations.
UN agencies and major aid groups have refused to cooperate with the GHF over concerns it was designed to cater to Israeli military objectives.
The UN human rights office said last week that more than 500 people have been killed waiting to access food from GHF distribution points.
The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza on Sunday placed that toll even higher, at 751 killed.
Israel has killed at least 57,418 people in Gaza, also mostly civilians, according to the Hamas-run territory鈥檚 health ministry. The United Nations considers the figures reliable.