Washington (TDI): US President Donald Trump is set to host Qatar’s Prime Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, for dinner at the White House on Wednesday, as diplomatic efforts intensify to broker a Gaza ceasefire and prisoner-release agreement.
The latest round of indirect talks between Israeli and Hamas negotiators, taking place in Doha since July 6, is centered around a US-supported framework proposing a 60-day truce.
This plan includes the gradual release of Israeli captives, a phased withdrawal of Israeli forces from parts of Gaza, and further discussions aimed at reaching a permanent end to hostilities.
The White House confirmed the meeting as part of the president’s official schedule. Earlier this week, Trump voiced optimism that a breakthrough in the ceasefire negotiations could be achieved soon.
Read More: Gaza Burns as Truce Talks Stall, Trump Still Sees Hope
Trump’s special envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, expressed cautious optimism on Sunday regarding the ongoing discussions in Doha, where Qatar continues to play a critical mediating role.
However, optimism in some quarters is not shared by Hamas. On Wednesday, the group accused Israel of seeking to prolong its military occupation of Gaza and dismissed Israeli media reports suggesting any meaningful advancement in negotiations.
Read More: Gaza Ceasefire Talks Stumble as Hamas Rejects Israeli Maps
The talks in Doha have now entered their second week, with the future deployment of Israeli forces inside Gaza emerging as a key stumbling block. According to Hamas, Israel’s latest proposal, which the group rejected, would have left troops stationed in over 40 percent of Gaza.
While Israeli public media outlets reported revisions were underway to proposed troop withdrawal maps, senior Hamas official Bassem Naim countered this, saying, “Israel has not presented any updated or altered maps. The facts on the ground show their intent to retain long-term military control over Gaza.”
Farkhund Yousafzai is an Associate Editor at The Diplomatic Insight.
