Israel is set to send a negotiating team to Qatar on Monday to push for an extension of the ceasefire-hostage deal in Gaza, even as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office dismissed Hamas’s claims of “positive indicators” toward a second phase. The announcement, made Saturday night by the Prime Minister’s Office, comes as tensions simmer between the two sides, with Israel reportedly planning an escalatory military campaign if talks collapse.
“Israel agreed to the invitation of the mediators backed by the US, and will send a delegation to Doha on Monday in an attempt to make progress in the negotiations,” the PMO stated. The team will include Gal Hirsch, the government’s hostage coordinator, senior Shin Bet official “M.,” and Netanyahu’s political adviser Ophir Falk—mirroring the lineup sent to Qatar in February. Notably, “M.” replaces Shin Bet head Ronen Bar, whom Netanyahu recently sidelined from the negotiation process and may soon dismiss entirely.
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The move follows conflicting reports from Hamas, which claimed Saturday in Cairo that discussions on a second ceasefire phase could soon begin. A Hamas spokesman asserted, “We affirm our readiness to engage in the second phase negotiations in a way that meets the demands of our people,” while calling for increased aid to Gaza and an end to the blockade. However, an Israeli official told The Times of Israel there was “no awareness of any progress” toward phase two, casting doubt on Hamas’s optimism.
Unconfirmed reports from Arabic media added fuel to the speculation. Saudi outlet Al Arabiya claimed an agreement had been reached to extend the ceasefire through Ramadan (ending March 29), though it offered no specifics on hostage releases. Similarly, Al Hadath suggested Hamas might free some living hostages for a two-month extension of the first phase. Neither report has been independently verified.
The first phase of the ceasefire-hostage deal concluded last Saturday, with talks for a second phase—requiring Israel’s full withdrawal from Gaza and a permanent end to the war—stalled since February 3. Israel has pushed to extend the initial phase for more hostage releases without committing to ending the conflict, a proposal Hamas has rejected. With 59 hostages still in Gaza, including up to 24 believed alive, the standoff remains unresolved.
Netanyahu held a phone briefing Saturday evening with key ministers and Shas party leader Aryeh Deri to assess the situation, according to Channel 12. On Sunday, he will convene his cabinet and security cabinet to chart the next steps. Meanwhile, Israel is reportedly preparing for a potential escalation if diplomacy fails.
U.S.-Hamas Talks Stir Friction
The negotiations are further complicated by emerging tensions with the Trump administration. This week, U.S. hostage envoy Adam Boehler held a rare direct meeting with Hamas’s Khalil al-Hayya in Doha to discuss American captives, prompting a sharp rebuke from Israel’s Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer. A Western official told The Times of Israel that Dermer “lashed out” at Boehler, who insisted the talks were preliminary and subject to Israel’s approval.
Adding to the intrigue, Kan news cited a senior Israeli source confirming a Sky News Arabia report that the U.S. proposed a deal to Hamas: 10 living Israeli hostages for a 60-day ceasefire. Israel, feeling sidelined, is “barely involved” in these discussions, which appear to be unfolding “over Israel’s head,” the report claimed.
As negotiators prepare for Doha, the path forward remains murky, with both sides dug in and international pressure mounting. Whether Monday’s talks yield a breakthrough or a breakdown could shape the conflict’s trajectory in the weeks ahead.
