A Hamas delegation met with Qatari and Egyptian mediators in Doha on Wednesday to discuss a potential truce in Gaza and the possibility of a hostage and prisoner exchange, according to the militant group.
Hamas reported that its chief negotiator, Khalil al-Hayya, engaged in talks with Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani and Egypt’s intelligence chief Abbas Kamel. The discussions focused on recent developments regarding the Palestinian cause and the situation in Gaza, although no breakthrough was announced.
Despite months of intensive negotiations led by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States, a lasting ceasefire has remained elusive, except for a one-week truce in late November. During this brief pause, 105 hostages were released to Israel in exchange for 240 Palestinian prisoners under a deal brokered by the mediators.
Ongoing mediation efforts in Doha and Cairo have followed a framework proposed by U.S. President Joe Biden and a “bridging proposal” introduced in August. Hamas reiterated its readiness to implement the ceasefire agreement as outlined in President Biden’s declaration.
Pressure for a deal has increased following Israeli authorities’ announcement in early September that six hostages had been found dead in a Gaza tunnel. Despite external calls for an agreement, both Israel and Hamas have publicly shown a hardening of their negotiating positions.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has intensified his calls for Israeli control over the Philadelphi Corridor, which lies on the Gaza-Egypt border. Netanyahu argues that this control is crucial to prevent Hamas from rearming.
However, Egypt and Qatar have recently dismissed Netanyahu’s claims, accusing him of attempting to divert Israeli public opinion and hinder a ceasefire agreement.
In response, Hamas reiterated its demand for Israel to withdraw from all territories in Gaza. The group also emphasized that it has not introduced any new demands to the negotiators and is rejecting any additional conditions proposed by other parties.
