Lagatar24 Desk
Doha: Ceasefire negotiations aimed at ending the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza were temporarily paused on Friday after two days of discussions in Doha. The talks, which involved mediators from the United States, Qatar, and Egypt, showed signs of progress, but a final agreement has yet to be reached. Negotiators plan to reconvene next week in Cairo to continue their efforts.
US President Joe Biden acknowledged the advancements made during the talks but noted that a resolution is still pending. A joint statement from the United States, Qatar, and Egypt confirmed that Washington had introduced a new proposal that builds on areas of agreement from the previous discussions, narrowing the gaps for a potential ceasefire and hostage release deal.
“The path is now set for that outcome, saving lives, bringing relief to the people of Gaza, and de-escalating regional tensions,” the statement read.
The latest round of negotiations began on Thursday with the goal of ending the violence in Gaza, which has resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of Palestinians in recent months. Although Hamas was not directly involved in the talks, the Palestinian militant group was kept informed of the proceedings.
Izzat al-Rishq, a senior Hamas official, expressed frustration with Israel’s conduct during the negotiations, claiming that the country “did not abide by what was agreed upon” in previous discussions, according to information provided by the mediators.
Despite these challenges, Biden expressed optimism, stating that the chances of reaching a deal are “much, much closer” than before the talks began. A senior US administration official described the negotiations as the most productive in months, with plans to finalize an agreement in the coming week.
Biden has instructed his negotiating team to present a comprehensive bridging proposal that could serve as the foundation for a final agreement on both the ceasefire and the release of hostages. He also held discussions with the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, both of whom expressed strong support for the US proposal.
In a show of commitment, Biden is sending Secretary of State Antony Blinken to Israel to underscore the importance of reaching a comprehensive deal and to ensure that no actions are taken to undermine the process.
Meanwhile, violence continues to escalate in Gaza. On Friday, Israeli forces intensified their bombardment of targets across the densely populated region and issued new evacuation orders, claiming that Hamas was using civilian safe zones to launch attacks. The United Nations has called for a week-long pause in fighting to facilitate a polio vaccination campaign after the first case of the disease was detected in Gaza.
The latest conflict began on October 7 when Hamas launched an attack on Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking approximately 250 hostages. Israel’s subsequent military response has led to the deaths of over 40,000 Palestinians, according to health authorities in Gaza, and displaced nearly the entire population of 2.3 million people. The ongoing violence has sparked international concern and allegations of genocide, which Israel denies.
As negotiations continue, the world watches closely, hoping for a breakthrough that could bring an end to the suffering and pave the way for lasting peace in the region.
