Israel seeking US help in ending Gaza war – report

Israeli report claims Jerusalem is hoping to negotiate an end to the war in Gaza and the release of all remaining hostages, with US lobbying Qatar to pressure Hamas to reach comprehensive deal.

By World Israel News Staff

Israel is quietly working to negotiate an end to the war in Gaza even as it gears up for a new offensive to expand the ground war, an Israeli newspaper reported.

With the IDF in the midst of mobilizing 60,000 reservist soldiers and poised to call up 20,000 more for the planned takeover of Gaza City, a report published by Ma’ariv on Tuesday claimed that the Israeli government is enlisting the aid of the Trump administration in pressing Hamas to move forward with talks aimed at achieving a comprehensive hostage deal and a permanent truce in the Gaza Strip.

According to the report, the US, at Israel’s request, approached several senior Qatari officials recently, lobbying them to pressure Hamas to submit its conditions for a single-stage hostage deal with Israel that would include the release of all 50 remaining hostages and an end to the war.

If Hamas agrees to the request and presents its list of demands, it would mark the first step toward negotiating a comprehensive deal. Until now, the indirect talks between Israel and Hamas have focused on a three-stage deal as presented by then-President Joe Biden in 2024.

The January 2025 ceasefire marked phase one of such an agreement, with talks on the second phase failing to reach a breakthrough since the truce ended in March.

In recent weeks, Israel has shifted its position on a hostage deal with Hamas, saying it will no longer accept piecemeal agreements, instead insisting on an agreement securing the release of all 50 hostages.

Ma’ariv reported that thus far, Qatar has not responded to the American requests to secure a list of demands from Hamas for a comprehensive agreement.

Majed al-Ansari, a spokesman for Qatar’s foreign ministry, has called on Israel to respond to the latest proposal for a partial deal, which Hamas has endorsed. Doha’s top diplomat downplayed Israel’s overtures for negotiations aimed at reaching a broader agreement, adding that he is waiting for a formal response to the new Hamas-backed proposal.

“There is already an offer on the table to which Israel must respond,” al-Ansari said.

Tuesday’s report came a day after an Egyptian delegation visited Israel as part of an effort to secure a venue for new hostage deal talks with Hamas.

President Donald Trump hinted on Monday that the war in Gaza is nearing completion and would likely be ended within two to three weeks.

“The war is coming to an end,” Trump said during a meeting with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung in the Oval Office.

“Within the next two to three weeks, you’re going to have pretty good, conclusive — a conclusive ending” to the war, the president added.

Thousands of protesters rallied across Israel on Tuesday, blocking roads and holding demonstrations demanding the government drop its planned invasion of Gaza City and instead reach a hostage deal with Hamas to secure the release of the remaining hostages.