From the Liveblog of
Wednesday, July 2, 2025
Israel said hoping to clinch comprehensive truce, hostage deal before Netanyahu’s US visit next week
Nava Freiberg is The Times of Israel's deputy diplomatic correspondent.
Israel is advancing major efforts to reach a ceasefire and hostage release deal ahead of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Washington next week, multiple Israeli outlets report.
Israel is now, for the first time, willing to engage in talks over a comprehensive ceasefire and hostage release framework in Gaza that would see the release of all 50 remaining hostages from Hamas, the network says, citing sources involved in the talks.
Even if Hamas agrees to the framework in principle, potentially within the next 24 hours, the process will take time, the report adds.
Assuming a basic commitment from Hamas is reached, negotiations will then need to be held in Doha or Cairo to discuss the release of Palestinian security prisoners in exchange for the hostages, the process of the IDF’s withdrawal from Gaza, and the entry of humanitarian aid — talks which would take at least a week, according to the network.
At the same time, broader talks — led primarily by Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Qatari officials — are currently underway to determine how far Israel is willing to go toward ending the war, and whether Hamas is prepared to accept the terms that Israel offers. Without such acceptance, the overall chances for a deal remain slim, despite growing optimism, concludes the report.
In another report, Channel 12 says that during Netanyahu’s planned meeting with US President Donald Trump on Monday, the premier is expected to ask the US to pressure Qatar to threaten senior Hamas leaders with expulsion if they fail to advance a deal soon or show flexibility on Hamas’s core positions.
In recent high-level discussions, the issue of senior Hamas leaders receiving “preferential treatment” abroad resurfaced, according to the report.
Israeli officials believe targeted sanctions on senior Hamas leaders, especially one prominent leader living abroad, who was not named, being hosted by countries like Qatar and Turkey are essential to pushing Hamas toward a deal, despite Israel’s complex relationships with these countries, Channel 12 says.
“Hamas leaders are traveling freely around the world and feel no pressure — that’s why they’re in no rush to make a deal,” security officials involved in the talks were quoted as saying.
Earlier today, Hamas said it was open to a ceasefire with Israel, but did not accept the US-backed proposal announced by Trump hours earlier, in which he said that Israel agreed “to the necessary conditions to finalize” a 60-day ceasefire with Hamas, adding that during this period, “we will work with all parties to end the war.”
The proposal echoes earlier frameworks, though talks have repeatedly stalled over post-truce conditions, as Israel insists on preserving the right to resume fighting, while Hamas demands a permanent ceasefire.
According to the Kan Public Broadcaster, Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz have both expressed support for the framework in closed-door discussions, though Israel has not yet issued any official endorsement.
Channel 13 reports that Israel is preparing for the possibility that an agreement on a deal may be announced during Netanyahu’s trip.
The Times of Israel Community.