White House Agrine Steve Whitkoff is scheduled to meet with Sherr Ron Darmer in London tonight to discuss the potential renewal of negotiations for a comprehensive hostage release and an end to the war, according to two involved sources. Qatari officials are also in London and are expected to hold separate meetings with the American envoy. The U.S. is mediating between Israel and Qatar to resolve a crisis stemming from an Israeli attack on Hamas officials, aiming to restore Qatar's role as a mediator between Israel and Hamas. Sources indicate that the U.S. believes there is an opportunity to renew negotiations between Israel and Hamas within the next two weeks, despite the ongoing ground operation in Gaza City. However, these negotiations cannot commence as long as the crisis between Qatar and Israel persists. The U.S. is urging Israel to take steps to de-escalate tensions and repair the strained relationship with Qatar. In Gaza, Hamas political bureau member Ghazi Hamad, who was reportedly a target of an assassination attempt in Qatar, appeared on Al Jazeera. Hamad stated that Hamas was at a meeting as a negotiating delegation when Israeli bombing occurred, forcing them to leave the location. He described the bombing as severe, with consecutive missiles, including approximately 12 rockets in less than a minute, but confirmed their survival. Meanwhile, Israeli military vehicle traffic was spotted crossing the Old City of Gaza yesterday, with some activity noted in the Sheik Radwan neighborhood and reports of razing in Jabalia. A tall building in the Zeitoun neighborhood was also reportedly taken down. Eighteen members of the U.S. Congress declared on September 17th, 2025, that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, with Representative Veronica Escobar stating her responsibility to name and speak against the events. Previous reports indicated Israeli forces were operating in the heart of Gaza City, advancing into neighborhoods like Rimal and along Al-Rashid Road, causing connectivity disruptions in the northern sector affecting approximately 400,000 displaced Palestinians. Activist Hamza Al-Masri reported 13 fatalities after Israeli forces allegedly targeted civilians during their displacement near Al-Shifa Hospital. Earlier on September 17th, Israeli military vehicles were reported advancing towards shelter centers in northern Gaza and firing at Kamal Adwan Hospital. Separately, Israeli forces reportedly demolished structures in Khillet al-Dabaa in Masafer Yatta, south of Hebron. Fiji officially opened its embassy in Jerusalem on September 17th, 2025, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attending.
