US and Qatar in talks over proposal to end Israel–Hamas war

It is reported that on August 9, on the Spanish island of Ibiza, US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff discussed with Qatari Prime Minister Abdulrahman al-Thani the cessation of the war in Gaza and the release of the remaining 50 Israeli hostages from Hamas captivity.

Qatar and the US expect to present Israel and Hamas within two weeks with a comprehensive proposal for a ceasefire and hostage agreement.

A new proposal for a comprehensive diplomatic settlement that would end the war could delay Israel’s plans for a new offensive to occupy the city of Gaza.

Witkoff recently stated that the Trump administration is aiming for an all-encompassing all or nothing agreement that would stop the war, rather than partial arrangements.

Fleeting hope

Meanwhile, Israel’s Minister for Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer, during the Israeli military-political cabinet meeting on Thursday, August 7, just before the new plan for the Gaza offensive was approved, stated that the Trump administration will present the “end game” plan regarding the war in Gaza in the coming weeks.

According to Israeli media, Dermer raised the topic of the endgame even before the cabinet approved the plan to capture the city of Gaza, and he voted in favor.

“The gap between Israel and Hamas regarding ending the war is huge, so talking of a comprehensive deal is likely to be pointless at this stage,” an Israeli official involved in the negotiations told Axios.

At the same time, he added that there is nothing wrong with the US and Israel reaching an endgame agreement between themselves: “Our war is with Hamas, not with the US”

The Times of Israel also quotes a senior Israeli official who said that far-right ministers Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich voted against the plan approved by the military-political cabinet.

The reason was Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s position, which indicated that the expansion of the military operation in Gaza would be halted if negotiations for a ceasefire and hostage release were resumed.

Criticism from hostage families and the Arab world

The decision to expand military operations has sparked sharp criticism both domestically and internationally due to fears it could endanger the lives of the remaining 50 Israeli hostages and worsen the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

On Saturday, about 20 Arab and Muslim countries, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Türkiye, condemned the decision as a blatant violation of international law and an attempt to cement illegal occupation and impose a fait accompli… in breach of international legitimacy.

During a visit to Israel last week, Witkoff told the families of hostages that the US wants to end the war, not expand it, and is no longer interested in partial ceasefire and hostage agreements similar to those discussed previously.

The hostage families also criticized partial agreements as unjustly prolonging their loved ones’ suffering and warned that the plan to capture the city of Gaza threatens the hostages’ lives.

Rubio’s version of the collapse of negotiations

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that talks with Hamas on a ceasefire and the release of hostages broke down on the same day French President Emmanuel Macron announced his intention to recognize Palestinian statehood, which allegedly encouraged the terrorist group.

“If I’m Hamas, I’d basically conclude, let’s not do a ceasefire… because we can be rewarded, we can claim it as a victory,” Rubio said in an interview with the Catholic television network Eternal Word Television Network.

However, despite the Secretary’s statement, the negotiations collapsed several hours before Macron’s announcement, with Hamas providing its last response to mediators more than a day earlier.

“So those messages, while largely symbolic in their minds, actually have made it harder to get peace and harder to achieve a deal with Hamas. They feel emboldened,” Rubio said.

The US top diplomat also dismissed as fictitious the state that France and other countries recognize.

“What these people talk about isn’t real. They can’t define the borders or who’s going to run it… And if it’s going to be run by Hamas, you’re going to be right back into war,” he added.

According to Rubio, as long as Hamas exists… there will never be peace in Gaza.

“Their reason for existing is that they want to destroy Israel. They want to drive every Jew out of the Middle East. Ultimately, what Israel needs to do for Israel’s security will be determined by Israel,” the Secretary added, responding to questions about Israel’s plan to capture the city of Gaza.

War in the Gaza Strip

Since October 7, 2023, the Israel Defense Forces have been conducting a military operation against the Palestinian group Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

As a result of extensive shelling and fighting in the enclave, a humanitarian catastrophe has emerged, with various estimates reporting about 60,000 civilian deaths.

Recently, the Israeli government approved a plan to capture the entire territory of the Gaza Strip, including Gaza City. US President Donald Trump has not opposed this decision.

To this end, the country has announced the mobilization of tens of thousands of military reservists.

Read more about Israel’s intentions to occupy the entire Gaza Strip in the article by RBC-Ukraine.