Witkov meets Qatari officials, expresses optimism about Gaza talks

Steve Witkoff, US President Donald Trump's Middle East envoy, expressed optimism on Sunday about ongoing negotiations aimed at securing a ceasefire in Gaza.

Speaking to reporters in Teterboro, New Jersey, Witkoff said he plans to meet with senior Qatari officials on the sidelines of the Club World Cup final later on Sunday.

"I am optimistic about the progress of the discussions," Witkoff said, without elaborating on the details of the mediation efforts. The envoy's participation comes as part of intensified US efforts to end the conflict amid mounting international pressure.

Earlier on Sunday, Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad stressed that any ceasefire agreement must lead to a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, the reopening of border crossings, and the launch of reconstruction efforts in the war-torn enclave. In a joint statement, Hamas announced that delegations headed by Mohammed Darwish, head of the movement's leadership council, met with Islamic Jihad Secretary-General Ziad al-Nakhala. The two sides discussed the latest Israeli responses to ceasefire proposals put forward by international mediators, and the best ways to respond to them.

The two movements emphasized that any agreement must go beyond a temporary truce and address the broader political and humanitarian situation in Gaza.

Palestinian sources reported on Saturday that ceasefire negotiations in Gaza are facing a "stalemate" due to Israel's insistence on presenting a withdrawal map that would leave approximately 40 percent of the Strip under its military control.

For his part, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denounced criticism of the ceasefire negotiations and the release of prisoners in the Gaza Strip. In response to reports that his government rejected the deal, Netanyahu criticized the news channels that published it, saying: “They always repeat Hamas propaganda, but they are always wrong. We accepted the deal; the deal of (US envoy) Steve Witkoff, and then the version proposed by the mediators. We accepted it, and Hamas rejected it.”

According to Netanyahu, "Hamas wants to stay in Gaza. They want us to leave so they can rearm and attack us again and again. I will not accept this; I will do everything in my power to bring our hostages home. I will meet the families... I know their pain and suffering. I am determined to bring the hostages home and eliminate Hamas."

According to experts, Netanyahu does not want to reach a deal with Hamas to end the war. His gestures toward a deal being imminent, and that it is now within striking distance, are merely statements intended to show his gratitude to US President Donald Trump during his four-day visit to Washington, since he has no intention of ending the war or delivering aid to the devastated and besieged Gaza Strip.

It's worth noting that in an article published by the New York Times on Friday, the newspaper said that Netanyahu prolonged the war on Gaza to serve his political goals of improving his domestic image and remaining in power.

Among the actions cited in the New York Times report were Netanyahu's cancellation of a Gaza truce that would have secured the release of at least 30 hostages, due to threats from far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich to bring down the government, and his obstruction of White House efforts to secure Israeli-Saudi normalization conditioned on an end to the Gaza war, over the opposition of far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.

In a statement issued Saturday, Netanyahu's office claimed that The Times' coverage "defames Israel, its people, its brave soldiers, and its prime minister," praising Netanyahu's decisions after October 7, which he said led to "the greatest military victories in history."

In its response on Sunday, The Times said its investigation was based on "dozens of government records, military documents, and interviews with more than 110 officials in Israel, the United States, and the Arab world."

The newspaper said in its statement: "Our role as independent journalists is to report and expose vital information in the public interest, and to hold leaders accountable regardless of their party affiliation. The Prime Minister's Office statement does not refute the facts of this report." The newspaper emphasized that "what The Times investigation shows in detail is how prolonging the Gaza war helped Netanyahu remain in power."