Qatari Prime Minister to Join Gaza Ceasefire Talks as Mediators Push for Breakthrough

Trump says there is a “real chance” of a deal as Hamas seeks guarantees on Israeli withdrawal and end to war

Wed Oct 08 2025
icon-facebook icon-twitter icon-whatsapp

SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt: Ceasefire negotiations between Hamas and Israel entered their third day on Wednesday in Egypt’s Red Sea resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh, as Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani prepared to join the high-stakes talks aimed at ending the two-year war in Gaza.

Qatar’s Foreign Ministry confirmed the prime minister’s participation, saying it underscores “the determination of the mediators to reach an agreement that would bring an end to the catastrophic war in the Gaza Strip.” Egypt, the United States, and Qatar are jointly mediating the discussions.

The talks continue under the framework of U.S. President Donald Trump’s 20-point Gaza peace plan, unveiled late last month, which calls for a full ceasefire, release of all Israeli captives in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, Hamas’s disarmament, and the reconstruction of Gaza.

Hamas demands guarantees on Israeli withdrawal

Hamas negotiators said on Tuesday they were seeking written guarantees that Israel would end its military campaign and withdraw from the Gaza Strip as part of any deal.

Senior Hamas official Fawzi Barhoum told Al Jazeera that the group’s delegation is working to “overcome all obstacles” to achieve a deal that meets “the aspirations of our people in Gaza.” He emphasized that any agreement must ensure a “permanent and comprehensive ceasefire” and the “complete withdrawal of the occupation army.”

An umbrella group of Palestinian factions, including Hamas, also issued a joint statement vowing to maintain a “resistance stance by all means,” rejecting any attempt to force disarmament — a key demand in Trump’s plan.

Trump says Gaza deal “within reach”

Speaking at the White House on Tuesday — marking the second anniversary of the war’s start — President Trump said there was a “real chance” of securing a lasting Gaza deal.

“The progress made so far is encouraging,” Trump said, adding that the United States remains committed to “a permanent peace that brings security to Israel and justice to the Palestinian people.”

Senior U.S. and Qatari officials are now heading to Egypt to join the expanded talks. Washington has reportedly pressed both parties to finalize an initial phase focused on the exchange of captives and a limited troop pullback to a “yellow line” buffer zone inside Gaza.

Escalation amid negotiations

Despite the ongoing talks, Israeli warplanes continued to strike parts of Gaza City overnight. Gaza’s health authorities reported at least 19 deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the total death toll since October 2023 to 67,173, including over 20,000 children and 28,000 women.

According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, nearly 170,000 Palestinians have been wounded. Twenty-five of Gaza’s 38 hospitals are now completely non-functional, while famine and disease continue to spread amid what UN agencies describe as “unlivable conditions.”

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society said 29 of its staff have been killed while on duty, and more than 100 healthcare facilities have been destroyed. The ministry described the collapse of Gaza’s health system as “a deliberate destruction of the foundation of human existence.”

Famine deepens in Gaza

The UN has formally declared famine in parts of Gaza, with at least 460 Palestinians, including 154 children, reported to have died of hunger. More than 51,000 children under five suffer from severe malnutrition, and hospital bed occupancy has reached 225 percent, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.

In September, the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry concluded that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza, finding evidence of four of the five acts listed under the 1948 Genocide Convention. The Commission urged Israel to end its siege and allow unrestricted humanitarian access.

icon-facebook icon-twitter icon-whatsapp