Axios quoted two sources it described as "well-informed" that senior officials from the United States, Israel, and Qatar held secret talks at the White House regarding a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, indicating that the negotiations are currently progressing positively despite some gaps.
The two sources reported that the talks focused on the remaining fundamental disagreements to reach a ceasefire agreement in Gaza, and addressing related issues.
According to Axios, US envoy Steve Witkoff met with a senior Qatari official, as well as Ron Dermer, senior advisor to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with the meeting focusing on the redeployment of the Israeli army in Gaza.
According to the two sources quoted by Axios, both Witkoff and the Qatari official made it clear to Dermer that the map proposed by Israel was unacceptable.
In this context, the Qatari official stated that Hamas is likely to reject the map, and that the talks may collapse as a result. He requested that Doha not be held responsible if the negotiations fail.
For his part, Witkoff told Dermer that the IDF's redeployment map looked like Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich's map, explaining that it was unacceptable to Washington.
gaps
In contrast, Dermer argued during the meeting that Netanyahu was under significant pressure from his coalition not to make significant concessions.
As a result, Axios reported that Israel later presented a new map that included a broader military withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, noting that the new map led to significant progress in the talks and significantly increased the chances of reaching an agreement.
However, the website quoted a source it described as "informed" as saying that gaps remain, but that negotiations are currently progressing positively.
US President Donald Trump said there was a "very good chance" of a ceasefire in Gaza this week or next, after meeting with Netanyahu on Tuesday for the second time in two days to discuss the situation.
The US-backed proposal for a 60-day ceasefire includes the gradual release of Israeli prisoners held in Gaza, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from parts of the Strip, and discussions to end the war completely.
Since October 7, 2023, Israel, with full American support, has been committing genocidal crimes in Gaza, leaving approximately 194,000 Palestinians dead and wounded—mostly children and women—and more than 11,000 missing, in addition to hundreds of thousands displaced.
شارك برأيك
Axios: Qatari, US, and Israeli talks at the White House regarding Gaza