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ADDS alert series on progress on talks, switches dateline
There have been considerable advances in the most recent round of indirect talks between Israel and Hamas aimed at securing a ceasefire in Gaza, a source familiar with the talks told AFP on Monday.
The “significant progress on the remaining sticking points” in the latest negotiations in Qatar had led to a new “concrete” proposal being presented to the parties, the source said on condition of anonymity due to sensitivity of talks.
Qatar, alongside fellow mediators the United States and Egypt, has been engaged in months of talks between Israel and Hamas that have failed to end the devastating conflict in Gaza.
The source said Qatar’s premier had played a “significant role in bridging the final gaps” between the two sides.
They said Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani had been “pushing Hamas on one end” of discussions while Steve Witkoff, US President-elect Donald Trump’s intended Middle East envoy was “pushing the Israelis”.
Since early January, indirect negotiations have resumed in Doha to strike a ceasefire deal that would facilitate the release of dozens of hostages still held in Gaza.
The source added that there had been a “positive” initial response to the deal from both sides which would see more than 30 Israeli hostages held by Hamas released in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in an initial first phase.
Qatar’s ruler met with Hamas representatives and the Middle East envoys for the incoming and outgoing US administrations on Monday as part of a push to secure a so-far elusive ceasefire deal in Gaza.
Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani and a delegation from the Palestinian militant group headed by lead negotiator Khalil al-Hayya discussed “developments in the ceasefire negotiations in the Gaza Strip, which aim to achieve a long-term truce”, his office said in a statement.
The Qatari ruler also met Witkoff and Brett McGurk, incumbent Joe Biden’s envoy for the region, the emir’s office said in a separate statement.
Shortly afterwards, the White House released a statement saying Biden spoke with Sheikh Tamim to discuss “negotiations in Doha for a ceasefire and hostage release deal”.
“Both leaders emphasised the urgent need for a deal to be implemented to return the hostages… and bring immediate relief to the people of Gaza through a surge in humanitarian aid enabled by the ceasefire and called for in the deal,” the statement said.
A previous round of mediation in December ended without a deal with both sides blaming the other for the impasse. Hamas accused Israel of setting new conditions and Israel accused Hamas of throwing up obstacles to a deal.
A key obstacle in previous rounds has been Israel’s reluctance to agree to a lasting ceasefire.
csp/gv
