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Israel to Send Delegation to Qatar for Next Phase Cease-Fire Negotiations

TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

Israel announced on Tuesday that it will send a delegation to Qatar this weekend to engage in negotiations regarding the next phase of the Gaza cease-fire and prisoner exchange deal.

The announcement follows a meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and National Security Adviser Michael Waltz in Washington. During the discussions, the next steps of the cease-fire agreement were a key focus.

Netanyahu’s office described the meeting as "positive and friendly," occurring ahead of his scheduled meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump later in the day. Netanyahu will be the first foreign leader to meet Trump in the White House since his return to office last month. Analysts expect Netanyahu to face pressure from Trump to uphold the cease-fire, which the U.S. leader has claimed credit for brokering.

Just hours before the meeting with Trump, Netanyahu's office confirmed that Israel will dispatch a delegation to the Qatari capital, Doha, later this week to discuss technical details regarding the continued implementation of the agreement.

Hamas has also expressed its readiness to negotiate the second phase of the cease-fire, with mediation being handled by Qatar, the United States, and Egypt. This next stage is expected to focus on establishing a more permanent end to the conflict.

The first phase of the truce, which took effect on January 19, brought an end to over 15 months of intense warfare that resulted in the deaths of nearly 47,500 people and widespread destruction across the Gaza Strip. As part of the agreement, Hamas and Israel have been exchanging hostages held in Gaza for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.

Israel Prepares Delegation for Doha Talks

"Israel is preparing for the working-level delegation to leave for Doha at the end of this week to discuss technical details related to the continued implementation of the agreement," Netanyahu’s office stated after his discussions with Trump's advisers, including Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff.

The war began on October 7, 2023, following a Hamas incursion into southern Israel, which resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and the taking of 251 hostages. Since then, the conflict has devastated much of Gaza, with families of Israeli hostages advocating for the cease-fire’s continuation to secure the release of their loved ones.

Among them, relatives of the youngest hostages, Ariel and Kfir Bibas, issued a heartfelt plea on Monday for updates on the boys and their mother, Shiri. Their father, Yarden Bibas, was released in the latest exchange.

"Shiri, Ariel, and Kfir, we miss you so much and are waiting for you with Yarden now," said Ofri Bibas, Yarden’s sister.

Trump’s Plan and Regional Resistance

President Trump has put forward a controversial plan that calls for the "cleaning out" of Gaza, urging Palestinians to relocate to Egypt or Jordan. However, both countries, along with the Palestinian residents themselves, have firmly rejected the proposal.

"We are the owners of this land; we have always been here and will always be. The future is ours," said Majed al-Zebda, a father of six whose home was destroyed in the war.

Before departing for Washington, Netanyahu asserted that Israel’s ongoing conflicts with Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and confrontations with Iran had "redrawn the map" of the Middle East.

"But I believe that working closely with President Trump, we can redraw it even further and for the better," he added.

Netanyahu also emphasized that being the first foreign leader to meet Trump since his inauguration signified the strength of the U.S.-Israel alliance.

Trump, who takes pride in his negotiation skills, is expected to urge Netanyahu to adhere to the cease-fire deal, potentially offering incentives such as advancing a normalization agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia. Efforts for such an agreement under former U.S. President Joe Biden stalled due to the war, and Saudi Arabia has since taken a firmer stance against normalization.

Cease-Fire Implementation Continues

The initial 42-day phase of the cease-fire deal outlined the staggered release of 33 hostages by Hamas in exchange for approximately 1,900 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.

So far, four hostage-prisoner exchanges have taken place. Hamas has released 18 hostages, while Israel has freed around 600 Palestinian detainees.

The truce has also led to a significant increase in humanitarian aid entering Gaza, including food, fuel, and medical supplies. It has further allowed displaced individuals to return to their northern Gaza neighborhoods