Qatar, Hamas discuss ways to advance Gaza cease-fire talks

ISTANBUL

Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman discussed Saturday developments in the Gaza Strip’s cease-fire negotiations and ways to advance them with a delegation from Hamas.

The Foreign Ministry said that bin Abdulrahman "received today in Doha a Hamas delegation for the Gaza cease-fire negotiations, led by Khalil Al-Hayya," who is the deputy chairman of the Hamas Political Bureau.

It added that "the meeting reviewed the latest developments in the Gaza cease-fire negotiations and explored ways to push them forward to ensure a clear and comprehensive agreement that ends the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip.”

The Palestinian resistance group said Wednesday that a cease-fire and prisoner swap has been delayed due to new Israeli conditions.

"The (Israeli) occupation set new issues and conditions related to withdrawal, cease-fire, prisoners, and the return of the displaced, which delayed reaching an agreement that was available,” it said in a statement.

Observers, however, view Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's announcement as part of a pattern of delays in negotiations.

Since the lone cease-fire in late November 2023, the Israeli premier has hinted at progress in talks for a prisoner swap and a potential cease-fire, only to later insist on continuing military operations in Gaza.

Israel is believed to be holding more than 10,300 Palestinian prisoners, while approximately 100 Israeli captives are in Gaza. Hamas has said that dozens of the captives were killed in indiscriminate Israeli airstrikes.

Israel has continued a genocidal war on Gaza that has killed nearly 45,500 victims, most of them women and children, since a Hamas attack on Oct. 7, 2023.

Last month, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.​​​​​​​

Israel is also facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its actions in Gaza.

*Writing by Rania Abu Shamala