Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a meeting with a delegation that returned from Qatar to discuss ceasefire negotiations in the Gaza Strip, his office announced on Saturday. Following the meeting, which included ministers and security officials, Netanyahu ordered preparations for negotiations based on a proposal by US President Donald Trump's Special Mideast Envoy, Steve Witkoff. The plan includes the immediate release of 11 Israeli hostages and the remains of half of the deceased captives, according to an official statement. Israeli media previously reported that Witkoff presented a new proposal during ceasefire talks in Doha, suggesting a 60-day ceasefire in exchange for the release of 10 hostages. Israel's state broadcaster KAN noted that Israel accepted the plan, but Hamas rejected it, leading to a halt in humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza. Hamas insists that, under the three-phase ceasefire agreement previously negotiated, talks must proceed to the second phase, which includes a permanent ceasefire and a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. The Palestinian resistance group called on mediators, the UN, and relevant parties to "assume their political and legal responsibilities" to prevent further Israeli military actions and to stop its continued aggression in Gaza. The first phase of the ceasefire agreement lasted six weeks, ending on March 2, with several prisoners-for-hostages exchanges. However, Israel has refused to proceed to the second phase, which would lead to a permanent end to the war. Since October 2023, more than 48,500 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been killed in Israeli military operations in Gaza. The campaign has left the enclave in ruins, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis. — Agencies
