White House envoy Steve Witkoff has arrived in Qatar to participate in indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas, as efforts continue to extend the fragile ceasefire in Gaza.
The 42-day truce, which began on the eve of President Donald Trump’s inauguration, ended on March 1, following a prisoner exchange that saw Hamas release 25 living Israeli hostages and the remains of eight others, along with five Thai nationals, in return for around 1,800 Palestinian prisoners.
With the truce now expired, Israel is pushing for a two-month extension, hoping to secure the release of half of the remaining hostages. However, Hamas has rejected this, demanding immediate discussions on the next phase of the original agreement, which calls for a full Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza and a permanent ceasefire.
Humanitarian Crisis Deepens as Israel Blocks Aid to Gaza
Since the ceasefire’s expiration, Israel has blocked all aid shipments, including food and fuel, to Gaza, citing efforts to increase pressure on Hamas. The only desalination plant supplying clean water in Gaza has also had its electricity cut, forcing it to rely on dwindling fuel reserves to operate at reduced capacity.
The United Nations has expressed alarm, warning that delays in humanitarian aid could reverse progress made during the truce. UN Humanitarian Coordinator Muhannad Hadi stated, “Any further delays [on aid entering] will further reverse any progress we have managed to achieve during the ceasefire.”
The humanitarian crisis has also sparked threats from Yemen’s Houthi movement, which announced on Tuesday that it would resume attacks on Israeli-linked vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. The group had previously launched over 100 missile and drone strikes on merchant ships over the past 15 months, claiming the attacks were in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.
Tensions Grow as Families of Hostages Demand Action
For families of the remaining hostages held by Hamas, the urgency to reach an agreement is mounting. Since Saturday, protestors have camped outside Israel’s Defense Ministry in Tel Aviv, demanding a ceasefire deal to bring the remaining captives home.
Ofri Bibas, whose brother, sister-in-law, and two young nephews were killed in Gaza, voiced her frustration: “By Passover, everyone must be home, and the only way to bring everyone back is to end the war. Now.”
A recent Channel 13 poll suggests that half of Israelis believe President Trump is more concerned about the hostages than Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. According to the survey, 50% of respondents said Trump showed more concern, while 29% backed Netanyahu.
Despite ongoing talks in Doha, it remains unclear whether Hamas will agree to release additional hostages without securing a full ceasefire. Netanyahu’s far-right allies have warned they could collapse the governing coalition if the war does not resume, further complicating Israel’s position.
Israel Conducts Strikes Amid Ceasefire Talks
While both Israel and Hamas have largely refrained from full-scale hostilities since the truce began, Israeli airstrikes have continued in Gaza. On Tuesday, four men were killed in Wadi Gaza, an area from which Israeli forces withdrew as part of the ceasefire terms. The Israeli military claimed they were targeting “terrorists engaged in suspicious activity.”
However, Gazan residents insist the men were civilians. “They were innocent. They were just going to get mattresses and other things,” said Umm Tareq Obaid, a witness from the area.
Regional Stability at Risk as Negotiations Continue
The fragile ceasefire hangs in the balance, with regional mediators – Qatar and Egypt – as well as the US working to prevent a return to full-scale war. As the US, Israel, and Hamas engage in indirect negotiations, the future of Gaza, the hostages, and the broader region remains uncertain.
