Palestinian sources told the Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat on Friday afternoon that another round of negotiations for a ceasefire and a hostage deal is expected in the coming days. According to the sources, this round could be significant and might lead to an agreement if Israel and the Hamas terrorist organization reach key decisions.
The sources indicated that talks would focus mainly on proposals raised during the previous round of negotiations in Cairo and Doha. They said Hamas had conducted an in-depth internal review of the mediators' proposal and discussed it with several Palestinian factions. The sources also noted that the US would play a significant role, estimating that the Biden administration would pressure Israel, just as it has been pressuring the mediators, to in turn pressure Hamas into making greater concessions.
Hamas officials reiterated the terrorist group's position: a one-phase hostage deal coupled with a temporary long-term ceasefire (hudna) of at least five years, full IDF withdrawal from Gaza, lifting of all restrictions, and the resumption of aid.
According to those officials, the proposal submitted to the Hamas delegation by the mediators included a two-stage ceasefire. The first stage would last six to eight months and would be backed by US guarantees, serving as a prelude to the second phase. In this stage, half of the hostages would be released under explicit US guarantees ensuring the transition to the second phase, which would include a full end to the war in Gaza.
The Palestinian sources added that a condition set by Israel and the US prevented the earlier completion of an agreement. Efforts are currently underway to resolve this through ongoing mediation. According to the report, the sticking point involves the language in the agreement regarding the weapons held by terrorist groups in Gaza and the fate of their military capabilities.
Conflicting reports from Egypt
Earlier on Friday, Egyptian sources told Arabic-language media that the attempt to reach a temporary ceasefire in Gaza had failed, and that Israel had informed the mediators of its refusal.
According to these sources, Israel had backtracked from terms that had seemingly been agreed upon in recent days. They claimed that Israel is now insisting on keeping its forces in the Gaza Strip until the end of the year and intends to expand its military operation there.
In response, the Prime Minister's Office said: "The reports in the Arab media claiming that Israel rejected the Egyptian proposal are baseless. Hamas has always been, and remains, the obstacle to a deal."
Israel prepares for escalation in Gaza
Meanwhile, Israel has approved the mobilization of thousands of additional reservists and is preparing to escalate the war in Gaza.
The decision aligns with Israel's policy of gradually increasing military pressure while simultaneously negotiating under fire for the hostages' release. The intensification of airstrikes and ground operations, as well as the seizure of additional territory, is aimed at applying greater pressure on the Hamas leadership to agree to a more favorable deal for Israel. It also aims to establish control positions that could enable a final, more forceful operation if deemed necessary.
According to a senior Israeli official, shifts in Hamas' position, however limited, have mainly resulted from Israeli pressure. Still, Hamas' internal leadership reportedly believes Israel may be the first to break and back down from its demand to dismantle Hamas' military structure in exchange for the hostages.
Hamas believes such a development could occur due to internal pressure in Israel to reach a deal, especially ahead of former US President Donald Trump's expected visit to the region. Friday night's decision was intended to show that the Israeli government and the Israel Defense Forces remain determined to continue the fight and uphold the clear demand for Hamas' total military dismantling in Gaza.
