DOHA: Mediators are working to break the deadlock between Israel and Hamas in a renewed effort to extend the fragile ceasefire in Gaza, as negotiations continue behind closed doors in the Qatari capital, Doha.
A senior Hamas official had said that a fresh round of Gaza ceasefire talks started in the Qatari capital Doha, with the Palestinian movement approaching the negotiations “positively and responsibly”.
“A new round of ceasefire negotiations began today,” Abdul Rahman Shadid said in a statement. “Our movement is dealing with these negotiations positively and responsibly.”
Israel has also sent a team of negotiators for talks aimed at extending the fragile ceasefire in Gaza but has so far not commented on the talks.
Al Jazeera reported that the US special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, arrived last night and it seems to be a 60-day extension of the first phase of the ceasefire deal, in return for the release by Hamas of around 10 living captives.
As these talks are behind closed doors there is not much information coming out.
Israel cuts electricity supply to Gaza
The latest negotiations come after Israel cut the electricity supply to Gaza on Sunday night, in what Energy Minister Eli Cohen described as a measure to pressure Hamas into releasing captives.
“We will use all the tools at our disposal to bring back the hostages and ensure that Hamas is no longer in Gaza the day after,” Cohen said.
Israel has already stopped aid deliveries to Gaza amid the deadlock over the ceasefire.
“Denying the flow of food, medicines, fuel and basic relief means has led to a spike in food prices and a severe shortage of medical supplies, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in Gaza,” Hamas said in a separate statement.
ALSO READ: Israeli Strikes Kill Six Palestinians in Gaza Despite Truce Talks
The initial phase of the truce brokered by Qatar, Egypt and the United States began on Jan 19 and helped reduce hostilities after more than 15 months of relentless fighting that displaced nearly all of Gaza’s 2.4 million residents.
Gaza death toll reaches 48,467
According to the Gaza health ministry, the death toll in the Palestinian enclave has reached 48,467, the majority of whom were women and children, since the beginning of the Israeli war in October 2023. At least 111,913 others have been injured.
This toll remains incomplete, as many victims remain trapped under rubble, inaccessible to ambulance and rescue crews.
Meanwhile, Israel has killed at least eight Palestinians in its attacks in besieged Gaza, while killing three Palestinians in the occupied West Bank over the past 24 hours, local media and officials said.
