As the Holy month of Ramadan approaches, Gaza truce talks resume in Doha
Negotiations for a ceasefire in Gaza have resumed in Doha between ‘experts from Egypt, Qatar, USA and Israel,’ as well as Hamas representatives, reported state-linked Egyptian media.
Israeli media reports said the country’s war cabinet agreed to send a delegation to Qatar to continue the talks.
The talks are a ‘continuation of what was discussed in Paris,’ and ‘will be followed by meetings in Cairo,’ reported Al Qahera News, which is linked to Egyptian state intelligence services.
International pressure for a ceasefire has mounted on Israel in recent weeks, as the death toll from Israel’s military offensive on the Palestinian territory nears 30,000 — most of them women and children — according to the Gaza health ministry.
In negotiations, Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has demanded a ceasefire and Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza, which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dismissed as ‘delusional’ as he vows to press further into the territory.
Fears have surged over Israeli plans for a ground invasion of Rafah, where 1.4 million Palestinians have been pushed into sprawling tent cities right against the Egyptian border.
US, Arab, and other mediators have voiced hope a deal can be reached before the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan on March 10 or 11, depending on the lunar calendar.
White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan had earlier told CNN that negotiators for the US, Egypt, Qatar, and Israel ‘came to an understanding’ on the basic contours of a hostage deal during talks in Paris.
The deal is still under negotiation, said Sullivan, who added there will have to be indirect discussions by Qatar and Egypt with Hamas.
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