Qatar Says Gaza Talks at “Critical Stage” as U.S. Pushes for Phase 2

Qatar’s prime minister said that negotiations to deepen the pause in Gaza have reached a “critical stage,” even as Hamas continued over the weekend to violate the current arrangement, even as Hamas terrorists were eliminated by IDF forces in two separate incidents in crossing the Yellow line. At the same time, Israel sent a delegation to Cairo to pursue information on fallen hostage Ran Gvili, whose case has become a central point of dispute between Israel and Washington as the U.S. urges movement toward Phase 2 of the Gaza agreement.

For Israel, the immediate concern is completing Phase 1 of the hostage deal, which requires returning all hostages, living and dead, before any additional diplomatic steps can begin. Increasing U.S. pressure to accelerate the timetable has added another layer of tension to already sensitive talks.

Speaking at the Doha Forum, Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani said negotiations were at a “critical stage.” He stressed that what is being described internationally as a ceasefire is “at most only a pause,” saying a full ceasefire cannot be discussed “without stability and without the exit and entry of residents, and that is not the situation now.” According to Reuters, he added that mediators are working to push forward “the next stage,” though significant gaps remain.

On Saturday, IDF forces identified three terrorists crossing the yellow line in violation of the agreement and posing an immediate threat to troops. Soldiers opened fire and eliminated all three. “IDF forces in the Southern Command are deployed in the area according to the agreement and will continue to act to remove any immediate threat,” the army said. On Friday, two additional terrorists carrying suspicious objects approached IDF forces and were killed in an airstrike directed by ground troops. In total, five terrorists were eliminated over the weekend.

An Israeli delegation traveled to Cairo on Thursday under the direct instruction of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to advance efforts to locate Rani Gvili, the last fallen hostage in Gaza. The delegation was led by Hostages and Missing Persons Coordinator Gal Hirsch, together with senior officials from the IDF, Shin Bet, and Mossad. Today, Hamas and the Red Cross are scheduled to search in Gaza City’s Zaytoun neighborhood for signs of Gvili’s burial site. Israeli officials believe there is a lead regarding his location.

A senior source told Israel Hayom that the U.S. is exerting “heavy pressure” to move to Phase 2 of the Gaza framework. President Donald Trump hopes reconstruction efforts in Gaza can begin by March 2026. Under his 20-point plan, Phase 1 required Hamas to return all hostages within 72 hours, a they did not meet. Another clause offered rehabilitation and amnesty for Hamas members who commit to peaceful coexistence, though none have accepted the terms.

Netanyahu insists that Phase 1 must be completed before any further steps can proceed. The Gvili family echoed that position, saying: “Phase 1 of the hostage deal is not complete as long as Rani has not returned home. We demand that Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Trump pressure Hamas and Islamic Jihad to return Rani home immediately.”

The Hostages’ Families Forum also issued a firm statement urging Israel and the mediators not to advance before Gvili is returned. They said Hamas must meet its full commitment and that the agreement’s success “will be measured by the return of all the hostages” and that “the goal cannot be marked as achieved” before Gvili comes home.