Displaced Palestinians carry food parcels in the southern Gaza Strip (Credit: AFP)
'Israeli' sources: Momentum builds for partial Gaza ceasefire deal
Efforts to halt the war on Gaza have entered a critical phase, with 'Israeli' and regional sources indicating that a partial agreement between the Israeli Occupation and Hamas could be within reach.
The push comes amid intense pressure from the United States, Qatar, and Egypt to resume talks and secure a ceasefire before 'Israel' moves forward with its recently approved plan to seize Gaza City.
A senior 'Israeli' official told Channel 12 on Saturday that “there is a real chance” of striking a partial deal in the near future. Mediators, according to 'Israel’s' public broadcaster Kan 11, are working to revive negotiations over a ceasefire and prisoner exchange, hoping to forestall the full-scale implementation of the cabinet’s Gaza City operation.
Sources close to the talks said Tel Aviv has informed Washington it may pause its military campaign to allow an agreement to be finalized, even if operations have already commenced.
“The door remains open to the possibility of reaching an agreement, despite opposition within the cabinet,” the 'Israeli' official said.
Current efforts center on a proposal by US envoy Steve Witkoff, with signals that Hamas could return to the table. 'Israeli' officials claim the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza has weakened the impact of their starvation strategy, and that Hamas is under internal pressure following the release of footage showing detainees suffering from hunger.
Witkoff met on Saturday with Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani to discuss a plan for the simultaneous release of all 'Israeli' captives.
Separately, the US news outlet Axios reported that 'Israeli' Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer told the cabinet the Trump administration intends to present a proposal to end the war in the coming weeks. However, an 'Israeli' negotiator warned that deep divisions remain between 'Israel' and Hamas over the conditions for ending the conflict, making a comprehensive agreement unlikely in the short term.
