Newsletters
Israeli media reported that Tel Aviv has decided not to send a delegation to negotiations in Doha, Qatar's capital, for Gaza cease-fire and prisoner exchange talks.
According to Yedioth Ahronot newspaper, citing Israeli sources, the Tel Aviv administration decided not to send a delegation to Doha for Gaza cease-fire and prisoner exchange negotiations.
The report stated that despite Hamas announcing its readiness to begin indirect negotiations with Israel to resolve disagreements, end the humanitarian tragedy in Gaza, and reach a permanent ceasefire, the decision not to send a delegation to Doha was made because Hamas' presented demands were "completely different" from the draft presented by U.S. President Donald Trump's Middle East Special Representative Steve Witkoff.
An unnamed Israeli source told the newspaper, "Israel expressed approval for the proposed Witkoff draft, this is Israel's position. Hamas's response does not refer to the draft."
Israel Hayom newspaper, citing an unnamed US source, reported that Hamas accepted the general framework of the agreement, including "the number of Israeli prisoners to be released and Palestinian detainees to be released, along with a 60-day ceasefire."
Hamas announced on June 1 its readiness to begin indirect negotiations with Israel to resolve disagreements and achieve an end to the humanitarian tragedy in Gaza and reach a permanent cease-fire.
In a written statement from Hamas on May 31, the group's response to U.S. President Donald Trump's Special Representative Steve Witkoff's proposal aimed to ensure a permanent ceasefire, complete withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, and ensure uninterrupted flow of humanitarian aid to Palestinians.
Witkoff had stated that Hamas's response to the U.S. cease-fire proposal was "completely unacceptable."
Israeli Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir announced that the Israeli military would expand ground operations in the southern and northern Gaza Strip and also ordered the establishment of additional distribution and dispersal centers within the Strip.
The Israeli military attacked dozens of military targets from the air in the past day as part of "Operation Gideon's Chariots." Military spokesperson reported that forces expanded operations.
Gaza sources reported three deaths at "a school housing displaced people" in Deir al-Balah, 16 deaths in an attack in Jabalia, and five deaths in an attack in the Zaytoun neighborhood of Gaza City.
Israeli media also claimed that three high-level pro-Israel officials in the U.S. administration were dismissed due to disagreements between President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on "Iran and Gaza" issues.
Yedioth Ahronot reported that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio dismissed three high-level "strong Israel supporters" including a U.S.-Israel dual citizen involved in negotiations with Iran.
The report suggested the dismissals were part of Trump's desire to take foreign policy into his own hands, with background disagreements between Trump and Netanyahu regarding "potential attack on Iran and the war in Gaza."
1 min read
1 min read
