Qatar’s prime minister says framework reached for Gaza truce

Qatar’s Prime Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, announced on Monday that significant progress has been made in talks between Qatar, Israel, the United States, and Egypt regarding a phased ceasefire framework in Gaza. The framework, described as “good progress,” is set to be conveyed to Hamas and includes the phased release of women and children hostages, entry of aid into besieged Gaza, and the release of Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons. However, a senior Hamas official, Taher al-Nunu, expressed the desire for a “complete and comprehensive ceasefire” rather than a temporary truce. The Paris talks were deemed “constructive” by Israel, but acknowledged “significant gaps” that require further discussion. The Hamas-run Health Ministry reported 215 Palestinians killed and 300 wounded in the past 24 hours, with the total number of wounded since the conflict’s start at least 65,387. The military campaign began on October 7, 2023, after a surprise attack by Hamas on southern Israeli cities. Additionally, three U.S. soldiers were killed in Jordan following a drone attack near the Syrian border, leading to concerns about potential U.S. retaliation and its impact on regional security. The Qatari Prime Minister expressed hope that any U.S. retaliation would not undermine progress toward the Israel-Hamas hostage release deal discussed during the weekend talks.

Source – CGTN