More than 200 individuals are thought to have been taken to Gaza after Hamas’s assault on Israel on October 7.
Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani has stated that solely “minor” challenges stay to a deal to launch a number of the greater than 200 individuals taken captive into Gaza after Hamas’s assault on Israel final month.
Sheikh Mohammed, a former overseas minister, gave few further particulars or a timeline.
“The challenges that remain in the negotiations are very minor compared to the bigger challenges. They are more logistical; they are more practical,” he advised a joint press convention with the European Union’s overseas coverage chief Josep Borrell.
Qatar has been appearing as an middleman in negotiations to free these taken captive in Hamas’s shock assault on Israel on October 7, wherein a minimum of 1,200 individuals had been killed.
After the assault, Israel launched a relentless air and floor marketing campaign on the besieged Gaza Strip, bombarding the densely-populated territory in an effort to destroy Hamas. More than 13,000 individuals have been killed within the weeks since.
Borrell, who was resulting from meet Qatar’s emir earlier than travelling to Jordan, referred to as for the “unconditional release” of all captives and condemned Hamas for the assault.
“There’s no hierarchy between horrors, one horror doesn’t justify another horror,” he stated, urging an finish to the escalating violence and the creation of “sustainable peace” within the area.
The Reuters information company reported on November 15 that Qatari mediators had been in search of a deal between Israel and Hamas to alternate 50 captives in return for a three-day ceasefire that may assist enhance emergency assist shipments to Gaza civilians, citing an official briefed on the talks.
At the time, the official stated basic outlines had been agreed, however that Israel was nonetheless negotiating particulars.
On Saturday, the Washington Post newspaper reported a tentative settlement had been reached to free the ladies and kids among the many captives in alternate for a pause in combating.
Citing unnamed sources, the newspaper stated all events would halt fight operations for a minimum of 5 days with the captives to be launched in small teams.
The US newspaper’s report was denied by the White House, which stated discussions on a deal had been persevering with. On Sunday, United States President Joe Biden advised reporters he was not ready to say when the captives is perhaps freed. “I want to make sure they’re out and then I’ll tell you,” he stated at an occasion in Virginia.
Sheikh Mohammed stated on Sunday that such stories had been “counterproductive” and that the negotiating course of went by ups and downs.
“I think that I’m now more confident that we are close enough to reach a deal that can bring the people safely back to their homes,” he stated.
The talks are persevering with as Israel prepares to develop its floor offensive in opposition to Hamas into Gaza’s southern half.
The US, Israel’s major ally, has urged warning, as Gaza’s 2.3 million individuals battle to search out anyplace protected to remain out of the road of fireplace.
The civilian dying toll in Gaza was “staggering and unacceptable,” United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stated on Sunday as he renewed his enchantment for a direct humanitarian ceasefire.
Israel has thus far refused all requires a ceasefire.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/11/20/qatar-pm-says-only-minor-challenges-to-israel-hamas-captive-deal?traffic_source=rss
