Khaberni -Israeli reports have mentioned that ongoing negotiations on the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip are expected to conclude with an agreement within two weeks, and have confirmed for the first time that discussions are addressing the end of the war. Meanwhile, sources stated that the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) is reviewing new maps received from mediators.
The Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper quoted officials as saying that reaching an agreement on Gaza could be possible within two weeks and that the American Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff is expected to arrive in Doha within a few days.
The newspaper reported that Hamas expressed reservations about the number of Palestinian prisoners to be released in exchange for each Israeli detainee, but Qatari mediation has helped to bridge viewpoints.
An Arab diplomat stated in a broadcast that "the gaps regarding the map of Israeli forces deployment have narrowed", and that what remains are "just a few limited obstacles".
He considered the recent meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and the Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani as "very important for the progress of the talks", and that Washington is "satisfied with the developments so far".
Meanwhile, a political source knowledgeable about the negotiations told Haaretz newspaper that Israel is negotiating with Hamas for the first time aiming to end the war.
The source explained that these negotiations differ from previous deals which addressed the exchange of prisoners and detainees, as they actually confront the issue of ending the war, making them extremely intricate and complicated.
The source confirmed that the Israeli delegation in the negotiations "has a wide margin and enough flexibility to reach an agreement without compromising Israel's security needs".
This coincided with continuous pressure from the families of Israeli prisoners on the government to strike a deal, as thousands demonstrated in Hostages Square in central Tel Aviv in the context of weekly protests demanding a comprehensive deal that returns all prisoners at once.
The demonstrations spread across several cities with thousands of Israelis participating. Ainav Tsengauker, mother of one of the prisoners detained in Gaza, urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to allow the collapse of the Doha negotiations and to grant the Israeli team a mandate to end the war.
She also urged him to stop being selective and to strive to return all hostages. The families are demanding Netanyahu stop thwarting deals and killing opportunities, and to proceed with the U.S. President to end the war and return the hostages.
