An Israeli source has indicated that a potential deal with Hamas—one that includes both a ceasefire and the release of hostages—might come together as soon as the upcoming week.
“The talks are progressing slowly, but they are progressing. The direction is positive, we have overcome a significant obstacle and we are continuing, hoping to achieve a breakthrough,” the official shared with Channel 12 News.
The source further noted that discussions have been moving at a high pace, and if Hamas refrains from introducing additional hurdles, there’s a strong chance that U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff could be on his way to Doha within days. “The negotiations are very intensive, and if Hamas does not create new obstacles, it is possible that US envoy Steve Witkoff will arrive in Doha in the coming days.”
Still, the official emphasized that this isn’t the first time the talks appeared to be reaching their final stage—only to be derailed by new demands from Hamas. According to him, this pattern repeated itself multiple times over the past two weeks.
At this point, Minister Ron Dermer is not expected to be joined by a high-level team when he travels to Doha for the upcoming round of talks.
The same official also addressed President Donald Trump’s recent remarks regarding headway in the negotiations, clarifying that several complex issues still remain unresolved. These include the status of Palestinian security detainees and how humanitarian assistance will be allocated.
{Matzav.com Israel}
