WEB DESK: In the midst of ongoing conflict, efforts to broker a truce in Gaza have encountered a significant hurdle, according to Qatari mediators.
According to Al Jazeera, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani revealed on Wednesday that negotiations aimed at ending the violence and securing the release of prisoners held by both Israel and Hamas are currently at a critical juncture.
Speaking at a press conference alongside Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, Sheikh Mohammed acknowledged the challenges facing the mediation process. “We are endeavoring to address this stumbling block as best as we can,” he stated.
Despite Qatar’s persistent mediation efforts over the past six months, there has been no breakthrough in the talks. Both Israel and Hamas remain entrenched in their positions, unwilling to compromise on conditions deemed unacceptable by the other party.
Meanwhile, as the protracted negotiations continue with the assistance of Qatar and Egypt, the Israeli military continues its operations in Gaza, further exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the blockaded enclave. The toll of the conflict is grim, with nearly 34,000 Palestinians killed and the population of 2.3 million enduring dire shortages of essential supplies.
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Hamas, for its part, still holds over 100 captives taken from Israel during a raid across Gaza’s northern border last October, which resulted in more than 1,100 deaths.
Sheikh Mohammed stressed the urgent need to alleviate the suffering of the people in Gaza and secure the release of hostages. He condemned what he described as Israel’s policy of “collective punishment” in Gaza and the occupied West Bank.
Qatar has consistently warned against the escalation of the conflict and urged the international community to intervene. “We constantly call on the international community to assume its responsibilities and stop this war,” Sheikh Mohammed reiterated.
As tensions simmer, the region braces for potential escalation, with Israel contemplating its response to an attack by Iran over the weekend, purportedly in retaliation for a suspected Israeli strike on its consulate in Syria.
