DOHA: Qatar will host Gaza ceasefire talks on Thursday, sources close to the negotiation process said, seeking a so-far elusive agreement that the United States hopes would stop Iran from striking Israel and avert a wider regional war, AFP reported.

US, Qatari and Egyptian mediators have invited Israel and Hamas for talks aimed at halting the ongoing Israeli bombardment campaign that the health ministry in the Gaza Strip says has killed nearly 40,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children.

The Israeli delegation will be led by top officials from the Mossad and Shin Bet intelligence agencies, including Mossad Chief David Barnea and Shin Bet Chief Ronen Bar. According to a US source familiar with the Doha meeting, CIA director William Burns is scheduled to take part in the negotiations.

The talks will be held in the Qatari capital Doha, a source close to Hamas and a second source close to the negotiations said Wednesday, though it remained unclear if the Palestinian resistance group planned to participate.

The primary goal of the Doha talks is to broker a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, which has been engaged in intense fighting for over 10 months. The conflict has seen numerous casualties and significant destruction in Gaza. The negotiations aim to address the humanitarian crisis and seek a resolution to the violence.

The Israeli government has outlined specific conditions for a truce, including restrictions on the release of certain prisoners from its jails. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed that the delegation will seek to negotiate these terms while addressing the broader conflict.

Hamas has said that it is continuing consultations with mediators and has demanded the implementation of a three-phase proposal put forth by US President Joe Biden. The proposal, which was outlined in May, seeks to address key issues in the conflict and provide a framework for peace.

The talks are taking place in the wake of heightened regional tensions following the July 31 assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. Iran has accused Israel of being behind the killing, which has raised concerns about potential Iranian retaliation.

The assassination, coupled with an Israeli strike in Beirut that killed a senior Hezbollah commander, has contributed to fears of a broader conflict.

US President Joe Biden has expressed hope that a ceasefire agreement in Gaza could help mitigate the risk of Iranian retaliation and de-escalate the situation. Despite the challenges, Biden remains optimistic, stating, “That’s my expectation,” regarding the potential for a ceasefire to prevent further regional conflict.

Iran has rejected Western calls for restraint, with Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani asserting that Iran will not forego deterrent actions against Israel. Tehran’s response will be closely monitored as the situation evolves.

Iran’s mission to the United Nations said last week: “We hope that our response will be timed and conducted in a manner not to the detriment of the potential ceasefire” in Gaza.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog said on social media platform X that the country remained on “high alert” over “the hate-filled threats of the Iranian regime and its proxies”.

The escalation has prompted governments to issue advisories against travel to Lebanon and also prepare contingency plans to evacuate their nationals from the region if full-scale war breaks out.

Meanwhile, the Israeli military has continued its bombardment campaign in the besieged Gaza Strip, with Wednesday air strikes targeting various locations in Gaza, including residential complexes. The ongoing Israeli bombardment campaign has resulted in significant casualties and widespread displacement among Gaza’s population.

Since October 7, Israel has launched a relentless bombardment campaign in Gaza killing at least 39,965 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to the territory’s health ministry.

Local residents in Gaza have expressed a mix of hope and skepticism regarding the upcoming talks. Many are eager for an end to the Israeli violence and the restoration of basic services and stability, while others remain doubtful about the likelihood of reaching a successful agreement.