Advanced talks underway between US, Qatar & Hamas to find compromise on war-ending guarantees

The United States, Qatar and the mediating parties are engaged in advanced negotiations to find a compromise in the wording of guarantees that would bring an end to the war as part of a deal between Israel and Hamas, according to a report aired this Tuesday on Kan News.

According to a source familiar with the talks, the current effort is primarily being led by Qatar in negotiations with Hamas, aiming to find phrasing that would serve as a compromise between the sides' positions. Such a proposal, if adopted by the United States, would also be acceptable to Israel.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office took the unusual step of publicly addressing these developments, with Netanyahu himself stating earlier today that there has been “significant progress” and scheduling a meeting of the Security Cabinet and a phone consultation on the matter.

A foreign source involved in the negotiations said that the progress could lead to a breakthrough, “though not immediately.” According to the source, there is some movement, but it depends on both sides—Hamas and Israel—being willing to compromise on the wording.

Also reported this evening on Kan News was that Hamas sources deny any significant progress. According to them, it is the United States and Qatar that are “pushing” the negotiations and projecting optimism.

Senior Hamas official Mahmoud Mardawi, based abroad, posted a statement on his Telegram account, stating, “Netanyahu continues to lie, and all his statements are an illusion aimed at deceiving the Israeli public and preventing a real deal that would lead to ending the war.”

An Arab source familiar with the details said, “There are intensive talks and some progress in Doha between Qatar and the Hamas-affiliated business mediator, in an attempt to present a new framework to the United States and Israel.”