DOHA (Qatar): Qatar said Tuesday that negotiations aimed at ending Israel’s genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip are ongoing, but it is not possible to set a timeline for their conclusion.
According to a ministry release, the statement came from Majed Al-Ansari, advisor to Qatar’s prime minister and spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, during a weekly briefing in the capital Doha, Anadolu Agency (AA) reported.
Al-Ansari emphasised that discussions remain at a “technical level” and reaffirmed Qatar’s commitment to continuing mediation efforts despite challenges.
“Qatar always believes in the necessity of pursuing these efforts, no matter how difficult the circumstances,” he said.
Last Friday, an Israeli delegation returned to Doha to resume indirect negotiations with the Palestinian group Hamas mediated by Qatar and Egypt to finalize a prisoner exchange and secure a ceasefire.
Al-Ansari noted that representatives from all sides meet regularly in Doha and Cairo but cautioned that there is no timeline or specific expectations for the negotiations.
“We will announce any direct results once they are reached,” he said.
For over a year, Hamas has expressed its readiness to finalise a deal and even agreed in May 2024 to a proposal by US President Joe Biden.
However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu withdrew from the agreement, introducing new conditions, including the continuation of military operations in Gaza and refusing to withdraw troops, while Hamas insists on a full cessation of hostilities and an Israeli military withdrawal.
Israel holds over 10,300 Palestinian prisoners, while Hamas is said to be holding around 100 Israeli captives in Gaza. The group also said that dozens of captives had died in indiscriminate Israeli airstrikes.
The Israeli army has continued a genocidal war on Gaza that has killed almost 46,000 people, most of them women and children, since a cross-border attack on Oct 7, 2023, despite a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire.
In November last year, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for its war on the enclave. – BERNAMA-AA
