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Qatar and Egypt on Sunday pledged to intensify their joint efforts to revive stalled negotiations for a truce in Gaza, with Hamas expressing willingness to resume indirect talks immediately.
In a joint statement, the two countries, alongside the United States, reaffirmed their commitment to resolving obstacles hampering progress in talks between Israel and Hamas. The mediators said they aim to secure a 60-day temporary ceasefire that could lay the groundwork for a lasting peace agreement in the war-ravaged Gaza Strip.
Despite months of diplomatic shuttle efforts by Doha, Cairo and Washington, the latest attempt to broker a ceasefire appeared to falter again this week, with no substantial breakthrough reported.
The most recent temporary truce, which lasted for two months and saw the exchange of hostages and prisoners, ended in March. Since then, Israel has intensified its military bombardment across Gaza.
Reacting to the renewed mediation pledge, Hamas said it was ready to enter a new round of indirect negotiations “immediately” to resolve the remaining points of contention. The group stated on Saturday it had responded positively to the latest US-backed proposal, albeit with some amendments. The offer included the release of 10 living hostages currently held in Gaza.
Hamas militants abducted 251 people during the October 2023 attacks on Israel, with 57 still believed to be in Gaza. Israeli military assessments suggest 34 of them are dead.
However, US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff dismissed Hamas’s reply as “totally unacceptable,” saying it hindered progress. He urged the group to accept the proposed framework to allow proximity talks to begin in the coming days, which he said could lead to a 60-day truce.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated on Monday that Israel remains committed to recovering all hostages, both living and deceased.
Israel has stepped up military airstrikes in Gaza in recent weeks, prompting international concern. A prolonged blockade has severely limited the delivery of aid, exacerbating humanitarian conditions with widespread food and medical shortages.
The death toll in Gaza has risen significantly since Israel resumed its attacks and illegal invasion on March 18. According to the health ministry in Gaza, at least 4,149 people have been killed since then, bringing the total number of casualties to 54,418—mostly women and children.
Hamas’s initial October attack in 2023 claimed the lives of 1,218 people in Israel, according to Israeli figures.
