Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday said his country is open to a potential ceasefire agreement with Hamas — but only under specific conditions.His office issued a statement mentioning the conditions, which include the release of all hostages, the exile of Hamas members, and the disarmament of the Gaza Strip, reported AFP.“Even at this very moment, the negotiation team in Doha is working to exhaust every possibility for a deal — whether according to the Witkoff framework or as part of ending the fighting, which would include the release of all the hostages, the exile of Hamas terrorists, and the disarmament of the Gaza Strip,” his office said in a statement. The negotiations are being guided by a proposal from US president Donald Trump’s special Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff. According to a Channel 12 news report, Witkoff’s plan outlines steps to release most or all hostages, end the fighting, and remove Hamas from power. Netanyahu has told Israel’s negotiating team to stay in Qatar for now, an Israeli official said on Saturday night — a move widely viewed as a sign of cautious optimism about possible progress, according to the Israel Times. Despite these developments, the situation on the ground in Gaza has deteriorated. Overnight Israeli airstrikes on Sunday reportedly killed over 100 people, prompting the main hospital to shut down. Aid groups like the Red Cross have warned that the humanitarian system in Gaza is near collapse, with Israel’s blockade restricting the flow of essential supplies for over two months.
Israel has launched a new intensified military campaign named “Gideon’s Chariots.” The goal is to seize territory, push civilians further south, and gain more control over aid distribution. Israel says this escalation is meant to pressure Hamas into accepting a temporary ceasefire, though not necessarily a permanent end to the war.Trump, while supporting Israel’s position, also recently acknowledged the dire conditions in Gaza. “A lot of people are starving in Gaza,” he told reporters, adding that the US needs to help both sides.
