Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, revealed on Wednesday that the primary obstacle in negotiations for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas revolves around the return of displaced Gazans to their homes, with Israeli objections hindering progress.
Addressing reporters at a press conference, Sheikh Mohammed emphasized that the return of internally displaced people (IDPs) to their residences, a proposition yet to be accepted by Israel, remains the central point of contention stalling negotiations.
Additionally, Sheikh Mohammed highlighted another unresolved issue concerning the number of Palestinian prisoners to be released by Israel in exchange for each hostage freed by Hamas. Despite this, he expressed optimism that a resolution could be reached on this matter.
Qatar, in collaboration with the United States and Egypt, has been actively engaged in weeks of discreet discussions aimed at brokering a truce in the Gaza Strip and facilitating the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian detainees held in Israeli prisons.
Efforts to secure a ceasefire before the commencement of Ramadan faced setbacks, and with the Islamic holy month drawing to a close, negotiations have yet to yield tangible results.
The major points of contention mirror those encountered during previous negotiations in Paris in February, Sheikh Mohammed revealed, indicating a persistent stalemate in the discussions.
“We are trying our best to introduce solutions, we are trying our best to make sure that… some middle grounds are being created,” Sheikh Mohammed stated during a joint press conference with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, underscoring ongoing efforts to find common ground.
While talks were scheduled to resume in Cairo last Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent approval for fresh negotiations marked a potential opportunity for progress.
Both Israel and Hamas have traded accusations regarding the impasse in negotiations, with Netanyahu accusing Hamas of rigid stances, while Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh accused Israel of prolonging the talks.
The conflict between Israel and Hamas erupted following an unprecedented attack by Hamas on Israel, resulting in approximately 1,160 deaths, predominantly civilians, as per an AFP tally of Israeli official figures
