Doha: Qatar announced its intention to resume negotiations aimed at achieving a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Foreign Ministry spokesman Majid al-Ansari conveyed the nation's commitment to this objective, alongside efforts to forge a broader agreement on Iran's nuclear program.
According to Anadolu Agency, during a press conference, Ansari stated that there are currently no active talks concerning a Gaza ceasefire. However, he mentioned ongoing communications aimed at reviving negotiations. The spokesman highlighted positive signals from Washington regarding an agreement in Gaza, although he acknowledged the presence of significant complications.
On the regional front, Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Badr Abdelatty revealed that Cairo is developing a new Gaza deal proposing a 60-day ceasefire in return for the release of some Israeli hostages and expedited humanitarian aid into Gaza. Qatar is actively working through its partners to decouple negotiations from humanitarian aid entry into the enclave, emphasizing that Israel's resistance hampers aid access and criticizing the conflation of humanitarian and military issues in the region.
Previously, a three-phased ceasefire deal brokered by Egypt, Qatar, and the US on January 19 aimed to end the Israeli military campaign in Gaza. This agreement, however, unraveled after Israel recommenced its attacks on March 18. Since October 2023, over 56,500 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, despite international appeals for a ceasefire.
In November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and 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.
Turning to Iran, Qatar is also engaging in efforts to secure a broader agreement on the Iranian nuclear program. Ansari confirmed ongoing initiatives in this direction but did not provide further specifics.
The conflict between Israel and Iran escalated on June 13 after Israel conducted airstrikes on Iranian military, nuclear, and civilian sites, resulting in 935 deaths and over 5,000 injuries, according to Iranian authorities. The US escalated the situation by bombing Iranian nuclear facilities, prompting Tehran to retaliate with missile and drone strikes on Israel, causing additional casualties. The hostilities were paused by a US-sponsored ceasefire on June 24.