What's happened
As of March 14, 2025, negotiations between Israel and Hamas are ongoing, focusing on the release of hostages and a potential ceasefire extension. The Trump administration is mediating discussions, with a proposal to release hostages during Ramadan and Passover. However, significant disagreements remain between the parties involved.
What's behind the headline?
Current Situation
- The Trump administration's involvement marks a significant shift in U.S. policy, engaging directly with Hamas for the first time in decades.
- The ongoing negotiations aim to prevent renewed conflict during significant religious observances, Ramadan and Passover.
Key Issues
- Hostage Release: The proposal includes releasing at least five live hostages and the remains of deceased ones, but Hamas has previously rejected similar offers.
- Ceasefire Extension: The extension is intended to facilitate further negotiations for a long-term truce, yet Israel's insistence on demilitarization complicates matters.
Future Implications
- If a deal is reached, it could stabilize the region temporarily, but entrenched positions on both sides suggest that lasting peace remains elusive. The outcome of these negotiations will likely influence U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East moving forward.
What the papers say
According to the New York Times, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened a security meeting regarding Hamas's proposal, which includes turning over hostages and remains. However, the Times notes that it remains unclear if a deal is imminent. In contrast, Axios reports that the Trump administration's envoy, Steve Witkoff, is pushing for a ceasefire extension to facilitate negotiations, indicating a more proactive U.S. role in the discussions. The NY Post highlights that the U.S. has engaged with Hamas directly, a significant policy shift, with Adam Boehler, Trump's hostage envoy, expressing optimism about a broader deal. This divergence in reporting underscores the complexity of the negotiations and the varying perspectives on the likelihood of success.
How we got here
The conflict escalated following the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas, which resulted in numerous hostages being taken. A ceasefire was established in January 2025, but negotiations for a second phase have stalled due to disputes over control of Gaza and the terms of hostages' release.
Go deeper
- What are the main points of the ceasefire proposal?
- How many hostages are still being held by Hamas?
- What role is the U.S. playing in these negotiations?
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More on these topics
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Israel, formally known as the State of Israel, is a country in Western Asia, located on the southeastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea and the northern shore of the Red Sea.
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Hamas is a Palestinian Sunni-Islamic fundamentalist militant organization. It has a social service wing, Dawah, and a military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades.
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Steven Charles Witkoff is an American real estate investor and landlord based in New York City, and founder of the Witkoff Group.