Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani announced on Wednesday that the ceasefire talks in the Gaza Strip and the release of detainees are going through a sensitive stage.
He said in a press conference held in the capital, Doha, that the talks were witnessing “some faltering.”
He explained, saying: “Unfortunately, the negotiations are moving forward or faltering, and we are going through a sensitive phase at this stage with some faltering,” adding, “We are trying as much as possible to address this faltering, move forward, put an end to this suffering that the people in Gaza are suffering, and recover the hostages at the same time.” ».
He added that there are attempts as much as possible to overcome obstacles, without providing further details.
He pointed out that his country condemns the policy of collective punishment that Israel continues to follow in the Gaza Strip and the escalation in the West Bank.
It is noteworthy that this round of negotiations was preceded by a state of optimism less than 10 days ago.
On April 8, Egyptian media reported, citing a high-ranking Egyptian source, that there was significant progress in reaching consensus on many controversial points in the ceasefire negotiations in Gaza.
The source added that efforts to reach a truce agreement in Gaza are continuing, noting that the Qatari delegation and the Hamas delegation left Cairo and will return within two days to agree on the terms of the final agreement.
But this state of optimism did not last, as negotiations faltered after that and a truce has not yet been reached.
On April 9, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said that America continues to coordinate with Egypt and Qatar to reach a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, stressing: “We have a serious offer to Hamas that it must accept.”
Last Wednesday, US President Joe Biden called on the Hamas movement to respond to a proposal submitted by the mediators for a truce in Gaza, which includes the release of detainees, while allowing more aid to enter the besieged Strip.
Biden said, “The matter is currently related to Hamas, which must move forward with the proposal that was put forward,” stressing that the amount of aid that Israel allows to be delivered to the Gaza Strip is insufficient.
Biden indicated that he was frank and clear with Netanyahu and told him that Israel must allow more humanitarian aid to enter Gaza.
Military spokesman Daniel Hagari said last Thursday that the number of aid trucks to Gaza will reach 500 per day.
According to a report published by Reuters last Wednesday, two Israeli officials said that Tel Aviv agreed, during talks in Egypt about a ceasefire in Gaza, to “concessions” related to the return of the Palestinians to the northern Gaza Strip.
Hamas demands an end to the Israeli aggression, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and the permission of displaced Palestinians to return to their homes.
The framework drawn up by the negotiators stipulates that during the first six-week cessation of fighting, Hamas must release 40 detainees, including all women as well as sick and elderly men. In return, hundreds of Palestinian prisoners will be released from Israeli prisons.
Hamas stressed that any new agreement regarding detainees must end the war on Gaza and include the withdrawal of all Israeli forces, which Israel rejects.
Hamas leader Osama Hamdan said last Wednesday, in press statements, that the proposal presented by Israel reflects the occupation’s intention to procrastinate and buy time to serve the military operation in Gaza.
Two days ago, US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said that Israel has come “a great way,” but Hamas is the obstacle to reaching an agreement that would lead to a halt to the fighting in Gaza and the release of detainees.
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