Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar announced Wednesday that a permanent ceasefire in Gaza could be negotiated only after securing a temporary truce with Hamas. The remarks came during a press conference in Bratislava alongside Slovakia's Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar, signaling renewed diplomatic efforts to address the nine-month conflict.
Sa'ar confirmed an Israeli delegation remains in Doha, Qatar, for indirect talks on a proposed 60-day pause in hostilities. The deal under discussion includes the release of 10 living hostages and the repatriation of deceased individuals' remains. "Israel is serious in its bid to reach a hostage deal and a ceasefire," Sa'ar emphasized.
The development follows two high-level meetings between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump this week. While Netanyahu described the talks as focused on hostage recovery efforts, no concrete breakthroughs have been announced. The Israeli leader reiterated commitments to "eliminate Hamas's military and governing capabilities" while securing all captives' return.
Since Israel's military response began on October 7, 2023, following Hamas' surprise attack that killed 1,200 people and took 250 hostages, Gaza authorities report over 57,000 fatalities. The conflict has destroyed 70% of buildings in the territory and crippled infrastructure, creating severe humanitarian challenges for the 2.3 million residents.
