DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip. A senior Hamas official confirmed Monday that the Palestinian militant group is dispatching a delegation to Qatar to resume indirect ceasefire negotiations with Israel, as conflict continues to escalate in the Gaza Strip. The move comes amid renewed international concern over worsening humanitarian conditions and a mounting civilian death toll.
The unnamed Hamas official, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the ongoing talks, said recent discussions held in Cairo included a new proposal for Hamas to release 8 to 10 hostages currently held in Gaza. However, a major hurdle remains unresolved: whether any potential agreement would include an official end to the war.
The official said the upcoming talks in Qatar are expected to take place later this week or early next week. As of now, Israeli and Qatari authorities have not commented on the development.
The push for renewed dialogue follows the collapse of a previous ceasefire agreement in January that lasted for eight weeks. That truce, initially intended to pave the way for a longer-term resolution, broke down when Israel resumed its offensive, citing its goal to fully dismantle Hamas before considering an end to the conflict.
Since the breakdown of the ceasefire last month, Israel has significantly intensified its operations in Gaza. Humanitarian aid has been effectively blocked, with Israeli forces reportedly seizing control of several strategic areas in an effort to pressure Hamas into accepting a deal closer to Israeli terms.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warned Monday that the humanitarian situation in Gaza may now be “the worst” since Israel launched its retaliatory campaign 18 months ago.
“No fuel has come in, no food has come in, no medicine has come in,” said U.N. spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, referring to the Israeli blockade that has remained in place since March 2.
According to the Gaza Health Ministry, 38 people were confirmed dead in the past 24 hours, with a total of more than 1,600 Palestinians reportedly killed since the ceasefire’s collapse. The ministry reports that over 50,000 Palestinians have died in Israel’s retaliatory offensive since the conflict began. While the ministry does not distinguish between combatants and civilians, it states that more than half of the casualties have been women and children.
The war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants launched a surprise attack on southern Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking around 250 hostages. While many have been released through previous ceasefire deals, 59 hostages remain in Gaza, 24 of whom are believed to still be alive.
As the international community continues to call for restraint and a lasting peace, the outcome of the upcoming Qatar talks may prove pivotal in shaping the next phase of this protracted and devastating conflict.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
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- Venus L Peñaflorhttps://tutubi.ph/author/venusp/
- Venus L Peñaflorhttps://tutubi.ph/author/venusp/
- Venus L Peñaflorhttps://tutubi.ph/author/venusp/
