Doha Cease-fire Talks Paused; Progress Made but Challenges Remain
Negotiators in Doha paused Gaza cease-fire talks on Friday, with plans to reconvene next week to end the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas and secure the release of remaining hostages. The United States, Qatar, and Egypt released a joint statement, noting that Washington had presented a new proposal built on prior agreements, narrowing the gaps between the sides and potentially enabling a swift deal implementation.
Despite the progress, the statement acknowledged that gaps remain, but there are now new “areas of agreement” between the sides. Working teams will continue to address technical details over the coming days, with senior officials from the mediating countries scheduled to meet again in Cairo before the end of next week.
The proposal, which aligns with Security Council Resolution No. 2735, seeks to build on recent areas of agreement. However, challenges persist, particularly over new conditions introduced by Israel. These include the presence of Israeli troops inside Gaza along its border with Egypt, a condition Hamas has firmly rejected.
On Friday night, Hamas officials told AFP that they would not accept any “new conditions” and reiterated their demands for a complete cease-fire, full withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, the return of displaced persons, and a hostage deal without additional restrictions. The Palestinian group was not directly involved in the talks and was kept informed by mediators.
White House national security spokesperson John Kirby, described the latest developments as “a positive step forward” but emphasized that “there’s an awful lot of work that still needs to be done.” Additionally, an Israeli official confirmed that its delegation was returning home, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expected to meet US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday.
