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Qatar’s Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman will deliver a message from Hamas to Steve Whitkoff, the Donald Trump administration’s special envoy to the Middle East. In it, the terrorist organisation declares its readiness to relinquish power in the Gaza Strip and release all Israeli hostages as part of a large-scale deal. This was reported by Walla with reference to Palestinian sources who passed the information to the Saudi TV channel Al Arabiya.
According to the sources, Qatar is trying to resume negotiations on the second phase of the ceasefire agreement, which should include the release of hostages and long-term agreements on the settlement of the conflict. Mohammed bin Abdulrahman is actively involved in the process, trying to establish contact between Hamas and the new US administration led by Donald Trump.
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A new round of diplomacy
The message that will be conveyed to the US side could be a turning point in the months-long attempts to conclude an agreement to release the hostages and stabilise the situation in Gaza. Hamas’s willingness to hand over power and cede control of the Gaza Strip is an unprecedented statement that – if confirmed – could have far-reaching implications for the regional landscape.
Previously, Qatar, Egypt, and the United States were the main mediators in the negotiations to end the hostilities between Israel and Hamas. Now, after Trump’s return to power, Doha is looking for new mechanisms to influence the situation and resume its role as a mediator.
At the time of publication, the Israeli side has not officially commented on the possibility of a deal, but Israel has repeatedly stated that the main condition for stabilisation in Gaza should be the complete demilitarisation of Hamas and the return of all hostages.
