Overview

• Qatar, Egypt and the United States tabled an updated ceasefire on July 17 that scales back Israel’s buffer-zone demand from five kilometers to 1.5 kilometers and amends the ratio of Palestinian prisoners per Israeli hostage.
• Hamas spokesperson Abu Obaida said the group offered to release all captives at once under a permanent ceasefire deal, which Israel rejected.
• Indirect negotiations in Doha have run since July 6 without agreement on key issues, notably Israeli military redeployment and humanitarian aid access.
• President Trump announced that another ten hostages will be released from Gaza shortly, signaling U.S. optimism despite the deadlock.
• Hamas has warned it will not guarantee returning to its interim-truce or 10-hostage release formula if talks fail to move toward a lasting ceasefire.