As the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip enters its seventh month, evolving into a potential direct conflict between Israel and Iran, all eyes are on the mediator talks.
“Sensitive Phase”
Today, Wednesday, the Prime Minister of Qatar, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, announced that the ceasefire talks in Gaza and the release of detainees are going through a sensitive phase.
He added that there are attempts to overcome obstacles as much as possible without providing further details.
He also mentioned that his country condemns the collective punishment policy that Israel still follows in the Gaza Strip and the escalation in the West Bank.
Sheikh Mohammed said at a press conference in Doha: “Unfortunately, the negotiations fluctuate between progress and stalling, and we are going through a sensitive period that includes some stalling,” adding, “We are trying as much as possible to address this stalling and move forward to end the suffering of the people in Gaza and at the same time recover the hostages.”
This announcement came after days of uncertainty dominated the negotiations between Israel and Hamas, after the movement submitted its response to the mediators, reaffirming its demands, which Israel considered a rejection of the American proposal.
Six Rounds of Negotiations
After six marathon rounds of negotiations that began at the end of January, mediators in Egypt, Qatar, and the United States have not succeeded in reaching an agreement between Hamas and Israel.
The ongoing negotiations are based on a three-phase agreement reached at a meeting held in Paris at the end of last January, attended by the heads of intelligence from Egypt, the United States, Israel, and the Prime Minister of Qatar.
The negotiations moved from Paris to Cairo and Doha, and back to Paris, whether directly or indirectly, hoping to reach a truce during Ramadan, then by the holiday, but so far, they have not resulted in an agreement.
The last round of negotiations in Cairo last week saw the Director of the CIA, William Burns, presenting an American proposal for a truce, delivered to Hamas.
The proposal stipulates a six-week truce during which 40 Israeli hostages would be released in exchange for the release of 800 to 900 Palestinians detained by Israel, and the entry of 400 to 500 trucks of food aid daily and the return of displaced people from northern Gaza to their towns.
While it was said that Hamas rejected the proposal in the last two days, the movement denied this and said that it only added some clauses to it.
The recent Gaza war, which began on October 7, 2023, escalated following a large-scale attack by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups. This conflict marks one of the most severe escalations in recent history, characterized by massive casualties and significant destruction. On that day, Hamas launched a multi-pronged attack from Gaza into Israeli territory, involving a barrage of rockets and ground incursions, which was the deadliest for Israel since its establishment, killing 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostages. Israel’s response was swift and extensive, leading to a substantial humanitarian crisis in Gaza. As of mid-April, reports indicate that at least 33,899 people have been killed in Gaza, including over 13,800 children, and more than 76,664 have been injured.