U.S. told Qatar Israel seeks an agreement despite Gaza operation

Israel’s public broadcaster said the United States informed Qatar that Israel remains interested in reaching an agreement with Hamas, despite the launch of a wide-ranging military operation in the city of Gaza.

According to the report, the Israeli operation is proceeding gradually and at a measured pace at Washington’s request, which seeks to give the negotiating track a chance to continue in parallel with the escalation on the ground.

Sources confirmed that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, during his meetings in Doha, expressed his appreciation to Qatar for continuing its mediating role, even after the recent Israeli military strike that targeted the Qatari capital, saying Washington considers Doha’s intervention a key element in keeping lines of communication open.

Israeli media quoted a security official as saying there is a need to continue “creating a negotiating dynamic” even while expanding military operations, adding that Washington is pressing Tel Aviv to maintain a balance between military pressure and keeping a window open for political solutions.

By contrast, sources familiar with the negotiations said the gap remains wide between Israel’s conditions and Hamas’s position, with Tel Aviv sticking to demands the movement considers onerous. The broadcaster also quoted a Hamas source as saying, “The previous method of negotiations no longer exists; we are ready to negotiate but in a different manner,” signaling a refusal to return to prior mechanisms sponsored by Western parties.

This comes as Gaza is witnessing ongoing field escalation, with Israeli forces seeking to complete their military operation amid mass displacement of civilians, while Washington tries to keep mediation channels open to avoid a complete collapse of the political process.