US Envoy Witkoff Holds Talks with Qatari and Israeli Officials in Rome Over Gaza Ceasefire

Steve Witkoff, the US President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy, is reported to be holding talks with senior officials from Qatar and Israel in Rome on Thursday. The meeting is part of renewed efforts to reach a ceasefire in Gaza and finalize a potential prisoner exchange deal.

According to sources cited by Axios, the discussions may indicate that the indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas are progressing and could result in an agreement within days. However, Qatar has not issued any public statement regarding the reported talks.

Officials from both the United States and Israel noted that Witkoff may travel to Doha by the end of the week if the Rome meeting yields significant progress.

The negotiations resumed in Doha on July 6, following a decision by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to send a delegation to the Qatari capital for indirect talks with Hamas. The discussions have centered around a proposed 60-day ceasefire, mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the US.

In a recent sign of flexibility, Hamas announced on July 9 that it was ready to release 10 Israeli captives. However, one of the primary points of contention remains Israel’s military presence in Gaza. Hamas continues to demand an end to the war and a full withdrawal of Israeli forces. Netanyahu has consistently rejected these terms, maintaining that the war must continue to dismantle Hamas’s capabilities—a goal that remains unfulfilled nearly two years into the conflict.

The current mediation builds on a previous three-phase ceasefire deal agreed upon on January 15, which was disrupted on March 18 when Israel broke the agreement before the second phase could begin.

The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire. Since March 2, Israel has blocked the flow of aid into the territory, worsening the already critical conditions. The blockade has triggered severe food shortages, with over a million children now facing life-threatening malnutrition.

Since the escalation began on October 7, 2023, Israeli attacks have killed more than 61,700 Palestinians, with thousands more still buried under the rubble.

A total of 86 people, including 76 children, have died from malnutrition, and the number is expected to rise rapidly as Israel continues to restrict the entry of humanitarian aid.