Israel’s Ultimate Demand: Will Trump Force Qatar and Turkey to Expel Hamas Leaders?

Negotiations between Israel and the Hamas terror group, mediated by Qatar and Egypt, are set to officially commence tomorrow. Despite the tight deadline set by President Trump, many complex issues remain. Senior Israeli officials, speaking to the press, have clarified the expected timeline: "This will be a short and focused negotiation. Within a few days, we will know if there is a deal or not."

The Deportation Leverage

The officials disclosed a critical American bargaining chip that Israel hopes to secure: leverage over Hamas’s external leadership. "Did Trump reach an agreement with Turkey and Qatar that in the event Hamas does not comply with the terms of the agreement, they will expel them?" the officials questioned, asserting that "This is the only leverage that can ensure the implementation of the deal."

The issue of expelling Hamas personnel was raised during the conversation between Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Trump. However, it remains unclear whether Israel has received a definitive answer confirming that Trump has secured such a commitment from the mediating nations.

The Negotiating Teams and Timeline

The Israeli delegation departing for the talks in Egypt includes the Deputy Head of the Shin Bet (known only as M), retired Major General Nitzan Alon, Coordinator for the Captives and Missing Gal Hirsch, and the Prime Minister’s Political Advisor Ofir Falik.

Notably absent from the initial talks are Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer and senior US officials, including presidential envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner. Their absence signals that the first meetings will focus on technical details, with the senior figures only joining later if a breakthrough is imminent.

The initial mission in Sharm el-Sheikh is to finalize technical details, including timelines, operational maps, lists of the security prisoners to be released, and monitoring mechanisms. If a genuine possibility of closing a deal emerges, the senior Israeli and US officials are expected to join the talks later in the week to approve the final agreement.

Under the most optimistic scenario, officials estimate that the first hostages will not reach Israel before next Sunday or Monday, as a 72-hour window is required between the signing of an agreement and the first release.

Hamas’s Counter-Demands and Military Pause

In parallel, Arabic media reports continue to detail Hamas’s expected counter-demands. A Hamas source told Al Arabiya that the group has begun collecting the bodies of the dead Israeli hostages and requested a halt to bombings to complete the task. The source claimed to have received American guarantees through Qatar regarding both a permanent Israeli withdrawal and non-targeting of Hamas leaders.

The terror group's demands, according to Saudi channel Asharq, will include a complete ceasefire throughout the negotiations, a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza City, and a suspension of aerial sorties for 10-12 hours daily. The source added that Hamas had submitted a list of both living and deceased captives to the mediators.

Meanwhile, Israeli forces have significantly reduced military activity in Gaza in coordination with the White House and at the instruction of the political echelon, a move intended to avoid jeopardizing the potential agreement. Military officials stress this is a methodical pause only, with forces maintaining high readiness to respond instantly to any threat. The Chief of Staff convened a special situation assessment, instructing forces to prepare for the implementation of the first phase of the Trump plan, while prioritizing the safety of the troops.