High-stakes negotiations in Doha aim to end hostilities and secure the release of hostages. Will mutual distrust and political pressures derail a potential breakthrough?

Israel and Hamas have agreed to send delegations to Doha, Qatar, to discuss a potential ceasefire and the release of hostages, marking a critical step towards de-escalating the ongoing conflict.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed a cautious optimism about the negotiations. “Our goal is clear: to bring our people home and ensure the security of our nation. We will explore all avenues, including diplomatic ones, to achieve this,” he stated.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir emphasized a balanced approach. “We must maintain pressure on Hamas, but we are also open to diplomatic solutions that can bring peace and security,” Ben Gvir remarked. He added, “Any agreement must ensure that we do not compromise our national security or reward terrorism.”

Opposition leader Yair Lapid showed support for the negotiations, stating, “There is a deal on the table, and it should be made. We must not let internal politics derail efforts to bring our hostages home and secure peace.” Lapid has reiterated his party’s willingness to back the government in parliament to ensure the deal passes despite potential opposition from right-wing factions.

Hamas spokesperson Ismail Haniyeh reiterated the group’s demands, saying, “We demand the lifting of the blockade on Gaza and the release of Palestinian prisoners. Our resistance continues until our people’s rights are fully restored.”

Reports indicate that Hamas has been consulting with Hezbollah in Lebanon to coordinate their positions ahead of the talks, raising concerns within the Israeli security establishment. “We are closely monitoring these consultations. Any coordination between Hamas and Hezbollah is a serious threat that we cannot ignore,” commented a senior Israeli official.

The decision to engage in talks has elicited mixed reactions within Israel. Leah Goldin, mother of one of the hostages, expressed hope and apprehension: “We hope these talks will finally bring our loved ones home. We have endured so much pain and uncertainty. It’s time for their return.”

In contrast, Ben Gvir has been vocal against the proposed deal. “The deal, according to the details published today, would mean ending the war and giving up on destroying Hamas. This is a reckless deal which would be a victory for terrorism and a security risk for the State of Israel,” he declared.

According to the reports, Ben Gvir accused Netanyahu of holding closed-door meetings with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and security chiefs, casting the  cabinet as merely “a decoration.” He went on: “I’m telling you, prime minister, that if you make a decision alone, it is your responsibility, and you will also remain alone. I was not elected by half a million people to sit in the government while the heads of the security establishment make the decisions,” he said, the reports say.

Intelligence Minister Gila Gamliel of the Likud asked Ben Gvir if he was making threats, to which he replied: “I am not threatening, this is the realist. If you decide alone, don’t expect me to hold up the government afterward.”