Qatar says Hamas-backed Gaza truce proposal mirrors earlier Israeli deal
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Dubai: Qatar on Tuesday said a Gaza ceasefire proposal recently endorsed by Hamas was “almost identical” to a version previously agreed by Israel, but warned that a breakthrough should not be assumed until Israel responds.
Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed Al-Ansari told reporters in Doha that Hamas had given a “very positive response” to the latest draft. “It truly was almost identical to what the Israeli side had previously agreed to,” he said during a live-streamed press conference.
He stressed, however, that Israel had yet to give its reply, while expressing hope for a swift and constructive response. Asked whether the current draft differed from an earlier US-brokered version, Al-Ansari declined to elaborate, citing the sensitivity of the talks.
“What is important here is to reach an agreement that is acceptable to both parties in word and in essence. And that’s what we have been working on in the past days,” he said.
Describing the situation as “a very defining humanitarian moment,” the spokesman cautioned that failure to secure a deal could deepen the crisis. “If this proposal fails, the crisis will exacerbate, and therefore Qatar in cooperation with Egypt and the other global players, including the US, are doing all they can in order to reach a ceasefire,” he added.
Meanwhile, a senior Israeli official said on Tuesday that Israel remained firm on its demand for the release of all hostages as part of any future Gaza truce. Mediators are now awaiting Israel’s formal response.
Israel and Hamas have held intermittent indirect talks since the war began, producing two brief truces that saw the exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners, but no lasting ceasefire has been achieved.
Qatar and Egypt, with US support, continue to lead mediation efforts. On Monday, Egypt said the new proposal had been conveyed to Israel, adding that “the ball is now in its court.”