Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will dispatch a working-level delegation to Doha later this week for negotiations on the Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal, his office confirmed on Tuesday.
The announcement follows high-level discussions in Washington with senior officials from the Trump administration.
The decision to send negotiators to Qatar came after Netanyahu met with US special envoy Steve Witkoff and National Security Adviser Michael Waltz at Blair House, his guest lodgings near the White House.
Later on Tuesday, Netanyahu is scheduled to meet with President Donald Trump, making him the first foreign leader to visit the White House since Trump’s return to power last month.
The Gaza truce and the next steps in the ceasefire agreement are expected to be a key focus of their discussions.
According to Netanyahu’s office, the Israeli delegation in Doha will discuss technical details regarding the continued implementation of the ceasefire agreement, which is now in its third week.
Under the first phase of the deal, 33 Israeli hostages have been released in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, including convicted terrorists.
The upcoming second phase aims to secure the release of the remaining hostages while also outlining plans for Israeli troop withdrawal and the war’s conclusion.
Hamas has indicated willingness to negotiate the next stage of the ceasefire, though Israel’s far-right political allies have pressured Netanyahu to abandon the deal and resume military operations.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, leader of the Religious Zionism party, has even threatened to leave the coalition if Netanyahu does not push forward with a full military defeat of Hamas.
President Trump, who has claimed credit for brokering the ceasefire after 15 months of war, is expected to pressure Netanyahu to stick to the agreement.
Trump has also revived efforts to normalise relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia, a diplomatic goal he pursued during his first term.
On Monday, Qatar’s Foreign Ministry expressed confidence in Trump’s ability to use his influence to advance negotiations.
Meanwhile, tensions in the Middle East remain high. Trump has repeatedly touted a plan to relocate Gaza residents to neighbouring countries, a proposal strongly rejected by Egypt, Jordan, and Palestinian leaders.
Before departing for Washington, Netanyahu declared that Israel’s conflicts with Hamas and Hezbollah, as well as tensions with Iran, have reshaped the regional landscape.
He expressed confidence that close cooperation with Trump could lead to further diplomatic shifts.
The Israeli prime minister has extended his stay in Washington until Saturday night to allow for additional high-level meetings. He is expected to meet Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday and Congressional leaders on Thursday.
