Qatar to Host Truce Discussion Meeting Between Israel and Hamas

A meeting between Israel and Hamas is expected to be held in Qatar later this week, with the aim to finalize a truce agreement. This information was shared with the CNN television network by Egyptian authorities, who are playing a critical role as mediators for this important meeting.

Jake Sullivan, the United States National Security Advisor, confirmed in an interview with CNN this Sunday (25) that Israelis and Palestinians are on the brink of reaching a mutual understanding regarding the “basic contours” of the peace agreement. The key elements of this pact include the release of hostages and a temporary ceasefire in the volatile region of the Gaza Strip.

Despite this positive step forward, Sullivan pointed out that the agreement still needs to undergo some modifications. Furthermore, the success of this agreement also depends on “indirect negotiations” happening between Qatar, Egypt, and Hamas. The complexities of the situation indicate that there is still work to be done before the agreement can be finalized.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in an interview broadcasted on CBS News today, chose not to divulge specific details about the meeting. According to him, it remains uncertain whether the agreement will be incorporated into the negotiations that are currently in progress. “Hamas needs to come to a reasonable situation,” stated Netanyahu, emphasizing the need for cooperation from all parties involved.

Netanyahu also disclosed that he plans to meet with authorities this Sunday to lay out a military strategy. The proposed plan simultaneously aims to evacuate Palestinian civilians from Gaza and obliterate the remaining Hamas battalions. “If we have a deal, it will be delayed a little bit, but it will happen. If we don’t have a deal, we will do it anyway,” he asserted.

Violent clashes break out during protests against Netanyahu in Israel

Protests led by family members of Israeli hostages have been occurring every Saturday in Tel Aviv and other Israeli cities. The protestors are demanding that Benjamin Netanyahu agree to a ceasefire with Hamas and facilitate the release of the 130 individuals still confined in the Palestinian enclave.

However, the demonstration held last Saturday (24) escalated into violence when a group of protestors managed to block a highway and were subsequently dispersed by the police. For the first time, the police resorted to using water cannons and mounted officers to control the crowd. As a result, twenty-one people were arrested on charges of “illegal assembly and disturbing the order”.

“Police violence against protesters, including the families of hostages, is dangerous, undemocratic and cannot continue. The right to protest is a fundamental right and cannot be taken away from protesters with batons and water cannons,” opposition leader Yair Lapid expressed on his social media account on the platform X.

In response to these events, the police have decided to initiate an investigation to determine whether their officers were guilty of overstepping their bounds. However, the authorities have accused those who were detained of hitting the streets “with the aim of confronting police officers, and not to make a legitimate protest.”