Qatar: Gaza ceasefire talks at ‘delicate stage’

Gaza ceasefire talks

WASHINGTON — Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said on Wednesday (April 17) that negotiations to reach a new ceasefire in Gaza are currently at a “delicate stage.”

Key Concepts

• Negotiations for a new ceasefire in Gaza are at a delicate stage.
• Efforts are being made to resolve obstacles to a ceasefire agreement.
• Qatar, Egypt, and the United States are involved in talks for a ceasefire.
• The focus is on securing the release of hostages held by Hamas and Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
• U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and British Foreign Secretary David Cameron have called for a ceasefire and the release of hostages.
• The Israeli military offensive in Gaza has resulted in at least 56 deaths, with two-thirds being women and children.
• Conflict in Gaza began after a terrorist attack by Hamas last year.
• Israeli tanks have advanced into northern Gaza.
• The UN Security Council may vote on granting full membership status to the Palestinian Authority.
• The U.S. does not consider a recent resolution as part of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

He told the media that efforts were being made to resolve obstacles to a ceasefire agreement.

Qatar, Egypt, and the United States have been involved in talks to secure a ceasefire in Gaza, including the release of some hostages held by Hamas in Gaza and the release of some Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed brokering a ceasefire in a phone call with Qatar’s prime minister on Tuesday. The State Department said the two officials reaffirmed “the importance of continuing to work closely in the coming days to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza that results in the release of all hostages.”

On Wednesday, British Foreign Secretary David Cameron called on the international community to focus on all hostages, demand Hamas’ immediate release, and accept cease-fire proposals.

During a visit to Israel, Cameron said, “The only reason the conflict in Gaza continues is because they don’t accept the deal. We need the hostages out. We need rescues in.”

The Israeli military continued its military offensive on Wednesday, saying it had killed 40 people in the past day. Air strikes were carried out on multiple Hamas targets.

The health ministry in Hamas-controlled Gaza said on Wednesday that Israeli military operations had killed at least 56 people in the past day, bringing the death toll since the start of the Israel-Gazakh war to at least 38,899. It also said two-thirds of them were women and children.

Hamas armed forces launched a sudden terrorist attack on Israel on October 7 last year. According to Israeli statistics, about 1,200 people were killed and about 250 hostages were taken to Gaza. Since then, Israel has launched a military offensive against Hamas in Gaza. Israel says about 130 hostages are still being held, but a third of them are dead.

Israeli tanks advanced into parts of northern Gaza on Tuesday. The Israeli military has warned Palestinians not to return to North Gaza. Israel says it does not want the Palestinians to return because it fears Hamas militants will regroup there.

Palestine’s UN membership

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) could vote as early as Thursday on a resolution recommending granting full membership status to the Palestinian Authority.

If the Security Council recommends the Palestinian Authority’s application, the General Assembly can approve it with a two-thirds majority.

However, the resolution’s fate in the Security Council is unclear. The United States is one of the five permanent members of the Security Council and has veto power.

U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield said during a visit to South Korea on Wednesday that the United States does not view the resolution as part of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

U.S. President Joe Biden said in a statement last month that the United States believes a two-state solution is the only path toward lasting peace.