Diplomacy pressed as talks continue

Diplomatic efforts intensify as US envoy Witkoff meets Qatar’s prime minister to push a comprehensive hostage deal amid debates over a Gaza City takeover.

Witkoff Sets Talks With Qatar PM to Avert Gaza City Takeover

US special envoy Steve Witkoff was set to meet Qatar’s Prime Minister Abdulrahman al Thani in Ibiza on Saturday to discuss ending the Gaza war and the release of all 50 remaining hostages, Axios reported, as diplomats seek to steer Israel away from expanding its Gaza offensive and occupying Gaza City. The talks come amid a flurry of mediation involving the United States, Qatar and Egypt to prevent a broader Israeli takeover.

Hamas sources cited by Ynet described a ceasefire-hostage framework that would end the war, ensure Israeli withdrawal, demilitarize Palestinian armed groups, exile Hamas leaders and establish a civilian authority for Gaza, with Hamas signaling readiness to resume fighting if the offer is rejected. The reports follow US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s comments suggesting that France’s recognition of a Palestinian state could harden positions and stall talks. The White House declined to comment.

The discussions unfolded as Israeli officials signaled a potential shift toward an “End Game” plan while coalition disagreements surfaced over how far to extend military operations in Gaza. Arab and Muslim nations condemned the expansion move as a violation of international law and urged restraint.

Diplomacy is being tested by a clash of timelines. Washington is betting that a broad hostage deal can constrain a battlefield calculus that favors a rapid, large-scale Israeli operation, while Israel weighs strategic gains against the risk to hostages and civilians. The talks show how outside players like Qatar and Egypt try to create a framework that could keep Gaza under some civilian administration rather than a full occupation, but political fault lines in Jerusalem and Paris’s moves complicate the path forward.

The piece also highlights how symbolic actions abroad can ripple back home. Macron’s planned Palestinian state recognition adds pressure on negotiators and invites a wider regional reaction, potentially hardening positions. In this volatile mix, the risk is clear: even a well-meaning diplomatic push can be undermined by hardline voices and procedural delays. Diplomacy now operates as much in public narratives as in backroom negotiations, and that balance matters for people on the ground.

Highlights

Diplomacy is the only path that can save lives in a region where every day counts.