May 18 – Israeli negotiators in Qatar are considering both a short-term ceasefire and a broader agreement to end the Gaza conflict entirely, marking a potential shift in policy, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced on Sunday.
The negotiations include discussions on the Witkoff outline, a proposal attributed to U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, which suggests a phased approach beginning with a temporary ceasefire and the release of Israeli hostages, followed by reciprocal measures such as the release of Palestinian security prisoners and continued talks toward a permanent ceasefire.
Until now, Netanyahu has rejected any permanent ceasefire that does not dismantle Hamas’s military and governing capabilities. His previous stance allowed only a limited pause of about 45 days, contingent on the release of around 10 hostages.
Netanyahu’s office reaffirmed that any final agreement must meet Israel’s long-standing war aims, including the release of all hostages, the exile of Hamas terrorists, and the disarmament of the Gaza Strip. The statement credited Netanyahu’s military and diplomatic pressure strategy for securing the return of 197 hostages, with efforts ongoing to recover the remaining 58 captives.
However, agreement within Israel’s governing coalition is not unanimous. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir rejected any framework that does not result in Hamas’s defeat, stating on social media platform X, “A framework to end the war without defeating Hamas will not arise and will not happen”.
Meanwhile, Defense Minister Israel Katz informed the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee that Mohammed Sinwar, Hamas’s highest commander and brother of the late Yahya Sinwar, was likely killed in an Israeli airstrike in Khan Yunis on Wednesday. Although the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has not confirmed his death, Katz stated that “all indications” point to Sinwar’s demise.
An unconfirmed report from Saudi Arabia’s Al-Arabiya suggests that Sinwar and 10 of his aides were found dead in a tunnel in Khan Yunis, allegedly killed in an Israeli airstrike on a Hamas command center under the European Hospital.
Sinwar, a longtime Hamas operative, rose to prominence following the deaths of Muhammad Deif in a July airstrike and Yahya Sinwar, who was killed in October. He was known as a staunch opponent of a negotiated end to the war and was aligned with Hamas’s pro-Iran faction.
The conflict has resulted in at least 1,180 deaths, with 252 Israelis and foreigners taken hostage during Hamas’s attacks on Israeli communities near the Gaza border on October 7. Of the 58 remaining hostages, 36 are believed to be dead.
As negotiations continue, the possibility of a comprehensive ceasefire remains uncertain, with Israel maintaining its military operations while exploring diplomatic solutions.
