Negotiations in Doha regarding a ceasefire in Gaza were temporarily halted on Friday, with plans for the negotiators to reconvene next week in an effort to reach an agreement that would end hostilities between Israel and Hamas and secure the release of remaining hostages, according to mediators. In a collaborative statement, the United States, Qatar, and Egypt announced that Washington had introduced a revised proposal that incorporated agreements made over the past week, potentially bridging the differences between the parties to facilitate swift implementation of a deal. The mediators will continue refining this proposal in the coming days.

"The path is now set for that outcome, saving lives, bringing relief to the people of Gaza, and de-escalating regional tensions," they stated. An Israeli official confirmed that the Israeli delegation in Doha would return home later on Friday, and that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to meet with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday. This latest series of talks, which have been intermittent over several months, aiming to conclude the war in Gaza that has resulted in tens of thousands of Palestinian casualties, commenced between Israel and the mediators on Thursday. Hamas, the Palestinian militant group, was not directly involved in these discussions but was kept informed of the progress.

Key issues that have persisted include Israel's demand that peace is contingent upon the destruction of Hamas, and Hamas's stance that it will only agree to a permanent ceasefire, not a temporary one. Other challenges involve the order of implementing a deal, the number and identities of Palestinian prisoners to be released alongside Israeli hostages, control over the Gaza-Egypt border, and ensuring free movement for Palestinians within Gaza. Overnight, Israeli forces targeted areas across densely populated Gaza, issuing new evacuation orders for previously designated safe zones, alleging that Hamas had used these areas to launch mortars and rockets into Israel.

The conflict erupted on October 7 when Hamas fighters invaded Israel, causing approximately 1,200 deaths and capturing around 250 hostages according to Israeli reports. Israel's military operations have devastated much of Gaza, resulting in over 40,000 Palestinian deaths, predominantly civilians, as reported by Palestinian health authorities. Israel claims to have eliminated 17,000 Hamas fighters. Regional concerns escalated as Hamas politburo member Hossam Badran stated that Israel's ongoing operations were hindering ceasefire progress. The Israeli delegation included high-ranking security and intelligence officials, while the White House dispatched CIA Director Bill Burns and U.S. Middle East envoy Brett McGurk. Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and Egypt's intelligence chief Abbas Kamel also participated in the negotiations.

These talks occurred amidst heightened regional tensions, with Iran threatening retaliation against Israel following the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on July 31. With U.S. warships, submarines, and warplanes deployed to the region to support Israel and deter potential aggressors, Washington is hopeful that a ceasefire agreement in Gaza can mitigate the risk of a broader conflict. Republican U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump commented on Thursday that he had advised Netanyahu during their last meeting in July to swiftly conclude the Gaza war, criticizing the demands for a ceasefire. "He knows what he's doing, I did encourage him to get this over with," Trump told reporters at a press conference on Thursday. "It has to get over with fast. ... Get your victory and get it over with. It has to stop, the killing has to stop." Netanyahu's office and Trump both separately refuted an Axios report that claimed they had discussed Gaza ceasefire and hostage release talks the previous day. Meanwhile, the White House condemned attacks by Israeli settlers on Palestinian civilians in the West Bank, stating that such actions were "unacceptable and must stop" after settlers attacked a village, resulting in at least one death.