Hamas Preempts Witkoff’s Participation in Doha Negotiations by Reinforcing Its Positions

10th March 2025

3 minutes read

Hamas Preempts Witkoff’s Participation in Doha Negotiations by Reinforcing Its Positions

Hamas has preempted a potential visit by White House envoy Steve Witkoff to Doha for a new round of negotiations aimed at salvaging the Gaza truce by reaffirming its previously declared positions.

Witkoff is expected to travel to the Qatari capital, Doha, on Tuesday evening in an attempt to mediate a new agreement for the release of hostages and a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, according to two U.S. officials cited by “Axios.”

The U.S. envoy had previously postponed his participation in the negotiations after Israel initially backed out of releasing Palestinian prisoners under the agreement, before eventually complying.

These talks will be the first since President Trump took office, as well as the first since the original agreement between Israel and Hamas, which stipulated a 42-day ceasefire in Gaza in exchange for the release of 33 hostages in the first phase, which ended a week ago.

Witkoff is expected to join Qatari and Egyptian mediators alongside negotiators from Israel and Hamas, who will begin talks on Monday.

The administration of President Donald Trump is pushing for an agreement that would secure the release of all remaining hostages and extend the ceasefire beyond the holy month of Ramadan and the Jewish Passover, potentially leading to a long-term truce to end the war.

Hamas is still holding 59 hostages in Gaza. The Israel Defense Forces have confirmed that 35 of them have been killed, while Israeli intelligence believes that 22 are still alive, with the status of two others unknown.

Among the remaining hostages are five Americans, including 21-year-old Aidan Alexander, who is believed to be alive.

“Axios” reported earlier this week that Trump’s envoy for hostage affairs, Adam Boehler, had held direct talks with Hamas officials, with the most recent meeting taking place last Tuesday.

During these discussions, Boehler explored the possibility of releasing Alexander, along with the remains of four other American hostages, as an initial step toward a comprehensive agreement to free all remaining hostages and establish a long-term truce.

A senior Israeli official stated that Witkoff aims to bring all parties together in one location for several days of intensive negotiations in an effort to reach an agreement.

A Hamas delegation held talks in Cairo on Saturday with the head of Egyptian intelligence regarding the Gaza ceasefire and a potential hostage exchange deal.

In a statement, Hamas urged all parties to fulfill their commitments under the original agreement and to immediately begin negotiations on its second phase, while Israel has so far refused to discuss this phase seriously.

The movement also reaffirmed its willingness to establish a “Community Support Committee” composed of independent national figures.

This committee is an Egyptian proposal aimed at addressing the “day after” scenario following the war. It was previously discussed in negotiations involving Hamas and the Palestinian Authority weeks before the truce was reached.

Hamas had accepted the Egyptian proposal, but the Palestinian Authority rejected it, insisting on its right to govern the Gaza Strip.