Intense negotiations continue in the Qatari capital Doha to free the hostages and extend the ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian movement Hamas. Against this backdrop, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened an emergency meeting with key government and security officials. The meeting, which took place on March 12, 2025, brought together senior officials such as IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, Mossad chief David Barnea, National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi, as well as ministers Ron Dermer, Bezalel Smotrich, Israel Katz and Gideon Saar. Among the participants was Shin Bet Director Ronen Bar, whose resignation, at Netanyahu’s insistence, remains a subject of heated debate. The meeting was an attempt to assess the progress of the negotiations and develop a unified position in the face of a possible turning point.

Meanwhile, Doha has become a center of international diplomacy. A delegation from Islamic Jihad (recognized as a terrorist group and banned in Russia) has joined the talks, which the terrorist group reported on its Telegram channel without disclosing details of its composition. The foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the UAE also arrived in Qatar, where they met with US Presidential Special Envoy Steve Witkoff. According to Channel 14 of Israeli television, they are discussing options for a limited agreement with the American and, probably, the Israeli side, which could be concluded by Saturday. The Israeli delegation, which initially planned to leave Doha on the evening of March 12, remained in the city on the instructions of its leadership, which underscores the seriousness of the moment.

A source for Channel 14 noted:

"We are close to a fork in the road: either a deal in the coming days or a resumption of war."

Optimism in Israel is centered on the possibility of an interim agreement that would include the release of some hostages, an extension of the truce for several weeks, and an exchange of Palestinian prisoners for continued dialogue. A senior Israeli official close to the process told Channel 12:

"There is progress, the negotiations have not been disrupted. If there were no prospects, we would not be here anymore."

The situation is complicated by the position of Hamas. The group's spokesman Hazem Qassem and its representative Abdel Rahman Shadid expressed hope for a transition to full-fledged negotiations on the second phase of the deal, which was announced on the morning of March 12.