Gaza Ceasefire Talks Paused As Mediators Aim To Close Gaps In Negotiations

Ceasefire talks aimed at ending the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza were paused on Friday, with negotiators scheduled to meet again next week.

The discussions, which have been taking place in Doha, Qatar, are focused on reaching a ceasefire agreement and securing the release of the remaining hostages.

In a joint statement, the United States, Qatar, and Egypt announced that Washington had introduced a new proposal that built on points of agreement from the past week. The proposal, according to the statement, closes existing gaps in a way that could enable the swift implementation of a ceasefire deal.

“The path is now set for that outcome, saving lives, bringing relief to the people of Gaza, and de-escalating regional tensions,” the statement read, reflecting a cautious optimism among the mediators.

U.S. President Joe Biden, however, urged caution, stating, “we’re not there yet,” indicating that significant challenges remain before a final agreement can be reached.

The current round of talks, which began on Thursday, is part of ongoing efforts to end the war in Gaza, which has resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of Palestinians. While the Palestinian militant group Hamas is not directly involved in the talks, it has been kept informed of the developments.

A senior Hamas official, Izzat al-Rishq, told Reuters that Israel “did not abide by what was agreed upon” in previous discussions, according to information relayed by the mediators. 

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