The Israeli public broadcaster Kan quoted an unnamed Israeli official as saying, "The possibility of reaching a deal has not been closed, and this is possible despite the opposition of ministers in the Israeli security cabinet."
The official added, "The United States indicated that even if the operation (occupation of Gaza) began, it could be stopped in favor of a deal."
The report noted that US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff met with Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani on Saturday "to advance a proposal for the release of all prisoners, reviving previous attempts to reach a deal that includes the release of all," without providing further details on the location and timing of the meeting.
Since the start of the Israeli genocide in Gaza on October 7, 2023, Egypt, Qatar, and the United States have been playing a mediating role to halt it, successfully concluding two truces: one in late December 2023 and the other in January 2025.
On July 6, Hamas and Israel began indirect negotiations in Doha to discuss a prisoner exchange and ceasefire agreement, mediated by Qatar and Egypt and supported by the United States. However, at the end of the same month, Tel Aviv and its ally, Washington, announced the withdrawal of their national teams from the consultations.
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Settlers attack Palestinian villages in the West Bank, assault residents, and the occupation army arrests two children in Nablus.
Egyptian star Mohamed Salah criticizes UEFA for ignoring Israel during the eulogy of a player from Gaza.
A massive march in Istanbul under the slogan "Be Hope for Gaza" in condemnation of the war and in solidarity with the Palestinians.
In each round, Hamas announces its willingness to release Israeli prisoners "in one batch" in exchange for an end to the war of extermination, the withdrawal of the Israeli occupation army from Gaza, and the release of Palestinian prisoners. But Netanyahu, who is wanted by international justice, evades the terms by proposing new conditions, including the disarmament of Palestinian factions. He is currently insisting on reoccupying Gaza.
During the ongoing Israeli genocide in the Gaza Strip, which began on October 7, 2023, the occupation army occupied all of Gaza City, with the exception of small areas, and remained there for several months before withdrawing from most of the city in April 2024, claiming to have "destroyed Hamas's infrastructure in the city."
With American support, Israel has been committing genocide in Gaza since October 7, 2023, including killing, starvation, destruction, and forced displacement, ignoring all international calls and orders from the International Court of Justice to halt it.
The genocide left 61,369 Palestinians dead and 152,862 injured, most of them children and women. More than 9,000 Palestinians were missing, in addition to hundreds of thousands of displaced persons and a famine that claimed the lives of many.
