Overview

• Hamas has agreed to release ten captives from Gaza on day five of indirect Doha negotiations to build momentum for a proposed 60-day ceasefire.
• U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff said he expects negotiators to finalize a 60-day truce by week’s end, linking the temporary halt in fighting to hostage releases.
• Israel’s leadership demands continued control over Gaza’s security and conditions any troop pullback on Hamas’s complete disarmament, warning it will resume operations otherwise.
• The EU reached a deal with Israel to open additional border crossings and increase aid truck convoys, with new humanitarian access routes beginning operations this week.
• Key disagreements over a full Israeli withdrawal and independent oversight of humanitarian aid remain unresolved and threaten to derail the interim ceasefire framework.