DOHA. Negotiators reconvened in Qatar on Friday to discuss a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, in a bid to prevent further regional escalation and bring an end to the devastating conflict in Gaza. The ongoing war has claimed the lives of tens of thousands of Palestinians and resulted in the captivity of Israeli hostages by Hamas.
The latest round of discussions began on Thursday and was set to resume after Friday noon prayers. Although Hamas is not directly participating in the talks, mediators are keeping the group informed of developments. “This is vital work. The remaining obstacles can be overcome, and we must bring this process to a close,” emphasized U.S. national security spokesperson John Kirby during a briefing at the White House.
Despite months of intermittent negotiations, key issues remain unresolved. Israel maintains that lasting peace is only achievable with the complete destruction of Hamas, while Hamas insists on a permanent, rather than temporary, ceasefire.
Meanwhile, Israeli forces intensified their bombardment of Gaza overnight, targeting areas previously designated as civilian safe zones. Israeli authorities claim that Hamas has been using these areas to launch mortar and rocket attacks. New evacuation orders have been issued, further displacing Gaza’s already beleaguered population.
The conflict, which began on October 7 with a deadly Hamas incursion into Israel, has led to the deaths of approximately 1,200 Israelis and the capture of around 250 hostages, according to Israeli reports. In response, Israel’s military campaign has devastated much of Gaza, killing over 40,000 Palestinians, the majority of whom were civilians, according to Palestinian health officials. Israel reports having eliminated 17,000 Hamas fighters during the campaign.
Hossam Badran, a member of the Hamas politburo, stated late Thursday that Israel’s ongoing military operations are impeding progress towards a ceasefire.
The Israeli delegation at the talks includes Mossad chief David Barnea, Shin Bet head Ronen Bar, and the military’s hostage affairs chief Nitzan Alon. The U.S. has dispatched CIA Director Bill Burns and Middle East envoy Brett McGurk, while Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and Egypt’s intelligence chief Abbas Kamel are also actively involved in the negotiations.
The talks are taking place under the looming threat of a broader regional conflict, with Iran vowing retaliation against Israel following the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on July 31. The U.S. has deployed warships, submarines, and aircraft to the region to support Israel and deter potential aggressors. Washington hopes that a ceasefire agreement in Gaza will reduce the risk of a wider war.
In a separate development, Republican U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump revealed on Thursday that he had urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during their last meeting in July to swiftly conclude the Gaza conflict. “He knows what he’s doing, I did encourage him to get this over with,” Trump told reporters. “It has to get over with fast. … Get your victory and get it over with. It has to stop, the killing has to stop.”
However, both Netanyahu’s office and Trump denied reports that they had discussed Gaza ceasefire and hostage release negotiations the previous day, as claimed by Axios.
Amid the Gaza conflict, the White House also condemned attacks by Israeli settlers on Palestinian civilians in the West Bank, stating that such actions are “unacceptable and must stop.” The statement followed reports of an attack on a Palestinian village by settlers, resulting in at least one fatality.
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.
