Escalating initiatives towards negotiating a truce in the ongoing Gaza conflict
Indirect talks between Israel and Hamas are currently underway, focusing on a proposed comprehensive agreement to end the conflict in Gaza. The latest deal, proposed by Hamas, includes a 60-day ceasefire, a partial release of hostages, the freeing of some Palestinian prisoners, and provisions for humanitarian aid to enter Gaza.
However, Israel has demanded the release of all hostages at once as a condition for ending the war. Prime Minister Netanyahu has not publicly endorsed the latest deal, raising doubts about its success. The key issues in the proposed agreement include the duration of the truce, hostage release, prisoner exchange, humanitarian aid, political will and trust, and war escalation.
The talks have been on-and-off, with previous rounds ending in deadlock. Both sides have blamed each other for the collapse of negotiations in July 2025. Domestic and international pressure is mounting on Israel's leadership to end the conflict and secure the hostages’ release, while Hamas shows readiness to negotiate under certain conditions.
The European Union (EU) foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, has called for more support for the suffering people in Gaza and urged Israel to allow more trucks in and facilitate better aid distribution. The EU has also condemned the killing of Al-Jazeera correspondent Anas al-Shehri and four other employees by Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip.
Meanwhile, US President Trump does not believe Hamas will release hostages in their current situation. Trump has referred to the massacre by Hamas and other terrorist groups on October 7, 2023, in which around 1,200 people were killed and more than 250 were taken as hostages to Gaza.
Qatar and the US are working on a new proposal for a comprehensive agreement on the release of hostages and an end to the war. US special envoy Steve Witkoff recently met with Qatar's Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani for this purpose. US businessman Bishara Bahbah, a close associate of US President Donald Trump, has called on both warring parties to immediately return to the negotiating table.
Bahbah advocated for a 60-day ceasefire, stating it would save lives, protect hostages from further danger, and create conditions for real progress. However, he cautioned that negotiations for a comprehensive agreement could take months. According to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the war can only be ended by finishing the job and completing the defeat of Hamas.
As the talks continue, both sides face pressure to reach a resolution. The stakes are high, with thousands of lives hanging in the balance. The international community hopes that a comprehensive agreement can be reached, bringing an end to the conflict and bringing much-needed relief to the people of Gaza.
- Considering the ongoing indirect talks between Israel and Hamas, the European Union foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, has urged both parties to prioritize a policy-and-legislation based approach, emphasizing the need for the release of all hostages, humanitarian aid, and a lasting peace to end war-and-conflicts in Gaza.
- Amidst the discussions for a comprehensive agreement, US President Trump has expressed doubts about Hamas' commitment to releasing hostages, citing past instances of war-and-conflicts such as the massacre in October 2023, while US businessman Bishara Bahbah, advocating for a 60-day ceasefire, believes that politics and general-news should focus on saving lives and creating conditions for real progress.
