The United States accelerates diplomatic efforts to push for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and a hostage exchange with Israel. On Tuesday, the U.S. Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, visited Egypt and Qatar, two mediator nations guiding negotiations between the conflicting parties. Meanwhile, pressure inside Israel continues to mount. A new poll shows that most Israelis prioritize the release of 136 hostages over a broader defeat of Hamas. Divisions within the Palestinian Islamist movement, with its political leadership in Qatar and its armed wing operating in Gaza, complicate prospects for a ceasefire. Hamas’s statement demanded a comprehensive and immediate ceasefire and an end to aggression in response to Paris talks held last weekend.
After consultations in Riyadh, Blinken met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and then landed in Cairo with a message of support and solidarity. In discussions with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Cairo reiterated opposition to the forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza. In speeches by many Israeli leaders, and with encouragement from Israeli forces advancing on the ground, the United States emphasized humanitarian support for Gaza and backed regional coordination to manage the Gaza crossing and counter Houthis in the Red Sea. Blinken again urged a two-state solution during his fifth visit to the region, though he did not specify the exact path to achieve it while the war in Gaza has already claimed more than 27,500 Palestinian lives.
Hamas divided between Doha and Gaza
The day concluded with Blinken’s stop in Doha. In the Qatari capital, Hamas maintains an office, and a Biden administration representative reaffirmed the same messages. Blinken and Qatar’s Emir, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, agreed to sustain close coordination to boost humanitarian aid to Gaza and to safeguard civilians in line with international humanitarian law, as reported before Blinken left for Tel Aviv. Doha is also a mediator, serving as a meeting point among Israel, Hamas, and the United States. Some challenges in negotiations stem from the disconnect between Hamas’s political leadership in Qatar and its military wing in Gaza, which do not always align on decisions made on the ground.
Official leadership in Doha, Ismail Haniyeh, operates with a degree of freedom and maintains open channels with Qatari officials. In Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, the head of Hamas’s political bureau and a figure linked to the group’s military wing, is believed to influence ceasefire terms. A source close to negotiations told AFP that every proposal directed to Hamas’s political office required ground-level review, with changes often needing mutual revision. Developments in recent months have weight as Sinwar and other leaders focus on strategic priorities while Hamas faces the reality of Israeli military pressure. The group’s inner dynamics and its secrecy complicate confirming any single, unified stance versus on-the-ground action.
“Comprehensive and complete ceasefire”
Regardless of the internal debates, Hamas ultimately responded to the Paris draft with a firm call for a permanent ceasefire and relief for civilians, including shelter, reconstruction, and the lifting of the Gaza blockade, alongside completing a prisoner exchange. Qatar viewed this as a constructive step, and Blinken indicated he would review the proposals and discuss developments with Israel on the following day.
Hours before Blinken’s meeting, internal pressures within Israel increased. An internal assessment by the Israeli Army suggested that more than a fifth of the hostages remained in Gaza and had died. Israeli intelligence officials reportedly concluded that at least 32 of the 136 hostages captured on October 7 had died, according to a secret assessment cited by Hamas. Some unconfirmed intelligence suggests more could have perished. These figures, the highest since the war began, have intensified calls among hostages’ families for de-escalation and the rapid release of loved ones. A poll released by the Israel Democracy Institute showed that a majority of Israelis—51%—prioritized the release of hostages over achieving victory against Hamas in Gaza (36%).