Hamas and Israel have restarted indirect ceasefire talks in Doha. At the same time, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is traveling to Washington to meet U.S. President Donald Trump. Trump has been urging both sides to reach a “deal this week” to stop the war in Gaza. These discussions aim to secure a temporary truce and arrange the release of hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. A Palestinian official confirmed that negotiations resumed Monday morning in Qatar.
The U.S. president believes there is a strong chance of progress. Netanyahu also expressed hope that his meeting with Trump will help finalize the deal. Before his visit, he sent a team to Doha with clear orders to continue talks. Trump is pushing hard for a ceasefire, especially as Gaza faces severe humanitarian conditions after nearly two years of war. Earlier proposals had stalled due to Hamas’s demand for a lasting ceasefire and Israel’s refusal.
According to sources close to the talks, the proposal includes a 60-day ceasefire. In that time, Hamas would release 10 living hostages and some bodies. In return, Israel would free Palestinian prisoners. Hamas also wants Israel to withdraw from key areas and give guarantees that fighting will not resume during the negotiations. The group is also demanding the return of UN-led aid delivery systems. Netanyahu has called the Washington visit an “important mission” to help finalize the agreement.
Meanwhile, violence continues in Gaza. On Monday, Gaza’s civil defense agency said 12 people were killed in Israeli airstrikes and gunfire. The Israeli military has not yet commented. Local residents are calling for an immediate end to the bloodshed, saying too many lives have already been lost. Media restrictions in the region make it difficult to verify these reports, but the civilian toll continues to rise.
The war has created critical shortages of food and aid. A U.S.- and Israeli-backed group, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), has faced chaos in distributing aid. UN agencies report over 500 people have been killed while waiting in line for food. Gaza’s health ministry puts that number at 751. So far, the conflict has claimed more than 57,000 lives in Gaza, most of them civilians, according to health officials. The United Nations considers those figures reliable.