US announces progress in Gaza ceasefire talks
Photo: Gaza Strip (Getty Images)
During the first day of negotiations in Doha (Qatar) regarding a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of hostages, some progress was made. Representatives from Qatar, Egypt, the United States, and Israel agreed to continue discussions for another day, according to Axios.
Israeli officials called the Doha summit the "last chance" to reach an agreement amid growing regional tensions, particularly due to threats from Iran and Hezbollah to attack Israel. The administration of US President Joe Biden emphasizes the importance of this agreement to reduce the risk of a full-scale war in the Middle East.
On the first day of negotiations, CIA Director William Burns and President Biden's top Middle East advisor Brett McGurk met with Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Israeli Mossad chief David Barnea, and Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel to agree on key points of the deal.
According to American officials, the discussions were constructive, and the parties reached a shared understanding of the next steps.
White House National Security Council Strategic Communications Coordinator John Kirby also informed the parties that the US has intelligence indicating that Iran and Hezbollah are still planning an attack on Israel, which could happen.
It is known that Qatari representatives have been consulting with Iran, stressing the need to de-escalate the conflict.
According to Qatar's Ministry of Health, the agreement under negotiation would secure the release of 115 hostages held by Hamas in exchange for a temporary ceasefire in Gaza.
It is reported that the results of the first day of negotiations were positively assessed by all participants, providing hope for further success in reaching an agreement that could be a key factor in stabilizing the situation in the region.
The agency, citing its source, stated that throughout the day, Qatari and Egyptian mediators informed Hamas representatives in Doha, as the group had previously refused to participate in the negotiations.
Situation in the Middle East
After the killing of top Hamas and Hezbollah leaders, an escalation of the conflict in the Middle East was expected. However, before these incidents, Hamas had initially approved a US-backed proposal for a phased ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. The group had then abandoned its key demand that Israel fully cease the war.
It is known that the US is trying to de-escalate the conflict, urging Turkey and other Iranian allies to intervene.
Earlier, we reported that, according to senior US officials cited by the NYT, Israel had achieved everything it could militarily in Gaza.
RBC-Ukraine, citing The Times of Israel, also reported that Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani explained to his Iranian counterparts that they should "consider the feasibility for them or Hezbollah before attacking Israel."
