CAIRO: Negotiations aimed at brokering a ceasefire in Gaza have resumed in Doha between “experts from Egypt, Qatar, the United States, and Israel,” as well as Palestinian resistance group Hamas representatives, AFP reported on Sunday citing state-linked Egyptian media.
The talks come in the wake of discussions held in Paris, where an Israeli delegation led by Mossad chief David Barnea explored possibilities for a ceasefire agreement and the release of hostages held by the Palestinian resistance group in Gaza, in exchange for Palestinian prisoners detained by Israel. Following the talks in Paris, Israel’s war cabinet approved sending a delegation to Qatar to continue the negotiations, as reported by Israeli media outlets.
Reportedly, the discussions in Doha are a continuation of previous talks held in Paris and are expected to be followed by subsequent meetings in Cairo, as stated by Al-Qahera News.
Efforts to secure a ceasefire have intensified amid mounting international pressure, particularly as the death toll from Israel’s military offensive in Gaza nears 30,000, with a significant number of casualties being women and children, according to the Gaza health ministry.
In negotiations, Hamas has reiterated its demands for a ceasefire and Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dismissed these demands as “delusional,” vowing to escalate military operations in the territory.
Of particular concern is the looming possibility of an Israeli ground invasion of Rafah, Gaza’s southernmost city, where a large number of the Palestinian population resides in sprawling tent cities near the Egyptian border.
Mediators remain hopeful that a ceasefire agreement can be reached before the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
Israeli Strikes Throughout Gaza
Meanwhile, Israeli troops and Palestinian resistance group fighters clashed throughout the Gaza Strip over the weekend, both sides said on Sunday.
Reports from both sides indicated ongoing fighting, with Israeli forces shelling several areas of the besieged Palestinian enclave and deploying tanks into Beit Lahiya while soldiers launched a ground offensive in the Zeitoun sector of Gaza City. The violence mostly unfolded in the northern areas, which had been early targets of the Israeli offensive.
According to medics, at least 86 Palestinians were killed in Israeli airstrikes since Saturday, while Israel’s military confirmed the deaths of two soldiers in southern Gaza. Additionally, Israeli forces claimed to have killed several Palestinians in Zeitoun and other locations.
Previous ceasefire agreements have led to the release of hostages, but Hamas insists on a permanent end to the conflict as a precondition for any deal.
So far, almost 30,000 Palestinians have reportedly been killed since Israel launched a relentless bombardment campaign in Gaza on October 7.
