US officials say Gaza talks have made some progress
Two U.S. officials said the first day of Gaza talks in Doha was "very good" and that some progress was made, as another U.S. official called the discussions “constructive.”
Qatari, Egyptian and U.S. mediators and Israeli negotiators have meanwhile decided to continue the talks for another day.
The summit in Doha, which Israeli officials have said is "the last chance" to get a deal, comes amid intense regional tensions and threats by Iran and Hezbollah to attack Israel in retaliation for the recent assassinations of Hamas and Hezbollah leaders in Tehran and Beirut.
The Biden administration has said a hostage and ceasefire deal is key to de-escalating tensions in the Middle East and preventing a regional war.
The deal under negotiation would secure the release of the 115 hostages being held by Hamas in exchange for a temporary ceasefire in Gaza, where more than 40,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to the local health ministry.
White House spokesperson John Kirby told reporters on Thursday that the talks in Doha are focused on the gaps that remain between Israel and Hamas over the details of how to implement the deal. He said the U.S. believes it is possible to close the remaining gaps.
At the end of the first day of talks on Thursday, the Prime Minister of Qatar spoke to the acting Iranian foreign minister Ali Bagheri and briefed him on the discussions.
The Qatari prime minster stressed to his Iranian counterpart the importance of de-escalating regional tensions, the Qatari foreign ministry said.
Two U.S. official said the first day of talks was "very good" and that some progress was made, according to U.S. news portal Axios.
Another U.S. official said the mediators "concluded a constructive day of discussions in Doha" and added that the talks will continue Friday.
Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Majed al-Ansari said the mediators "are resolute in their commitment to move forward in their endeavors to reach a ceasefire in the Gaza strip that would facilitate the release of hostages and enable the entry of the largest possible amount of humanitarian aid into Gaza."
Husam Badran, a senior Hamas official, said in a statement that the group believes any negotiations "must be based on a clear plan to implement what was previously agreed upon."
"Any agreement must achieve a comprehensive ceasefire, a complete withdrawal from Gaza, the return of the displaced and the reconstruction, in addition to a prisoner exchange deal," he said.
| Copyright © 2012 Naharnet.com. All Rights Reserved. | https://naharnet.com/stories/en/307288 |