AhlulBayt News Agency: The first round of indirect ceasefire negotiations between Hamas and Israel, held in Qatar, ended without any breakthrough, according to two informed Palestinian sources.
The sources, speaking with Reuters early Monday, explained that the Israeli delegation lacked the authority to reach a final agreement with Hamas.
They stated that the Israeli team in Doha had no genuine mandate to make binding decisions or sign an agreement.
Ceasefire could happen this week: Trump
US President Donald Trump expressed optimism on Sunday, saying a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas might be achieved this week.
He told reporters that there was “a good chance” for a hostage release and ceasefire agreement to materialize within the week.
Trump said, “I think we’re close to a deal on Gaza; we could have it this week… We think we’ll have that done this week.”
These talks, which resumed on Sunday, came just as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prepared for his third White House visit since Trump returned to office nearly six months ago.
Before leaving for Washington, Netanyahu stated that Israeli negotiators had clear instructions to pursue a ceasefire—on terms acceptable to Israel.
A Palestinian official told AFP that international mediators informed Hamas the negotiations would resume in Doha on Sunday.
Israeli broadcaster KAN reported that a delegation had been sent to Qatar to resolve outstanding issues in the ceasefire plan.
KAN added that the Israeli team is focusing on addressing remaining disagreements with Hamas.
Although Netanyahu’s office previously announced the delegation's trip to Doha, it dismissed proposed amendments to a 60-day ceasefire as “unacceptable” but offered no further details.
This followed Hamas’s claim that it had responded positively to the proposal and was ready to discuss key issues, such as a hostage exchange and ending Israel’s military operation.
Israeli forces kill 82 people across Gaza
Amid the negotiations, at least 82 people were killed by Israeli forces throughout Gaza, including 39 in Gaza City.
Witnesses described scenes of devastation in Gaza City’s Sheikh Radwan neighborhood, where people attempted to recover victims’ remains and rescue survivors from the rubble.
A day earlier, Israeli airstrikes killed at least 42 more Palestinians across Gaza—many of them waiting for humanitarian aid, hospital officials said.
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