Qatar States Gaza Ceasefire Talks Will Require More Time

Progress towards a ceasefire in Gaza has been slow, according to officials in Qatar.

The latest round of indirect talks between Israel and Hamas began on Sunday, following both sides' acceptance of a broad US-sponsored outline for an initial 60-day ceasefire that could potentially lead to a permanent end to the conflict.

Statements from Officials

Majed al-Ansari, spokesperson for Qatar's foreign ministry, stated on Tuesday, the third day of negotiations in Doha:

I don’t think that I can give any timeline at the moment, but I can say right now that we will need time for this.

A Palestinian official familiar with the talks said:

No breakthrough has been achieved so far.

The indication that an immediate agreement is unlikely may affect expectations regarding an announcement of a deal during Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to Washington.

On Monday, Donald Trump expressed confidence that a deal could be reached soon, stating that "things are going along very well" and that Hamas "want to have that ceasefire".

However, Ansari indicated that negotiations were still in early stages:

What is happening right now is that both delegations are in Doha. We are speaking with them separately on a framework for the talks. So talks have not begun, as of yet, but we are talking to both sides over that framework.

Recent Events in Gaza

In Gaza, the reported death toll continues to rise. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that five Israeli military personnel were killed and 14 injured late on Monday in an attack by Hamas militants near Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza. Gaza’s civil defence agency reported 29 people killed in Israeli strikes across the territory, including three children.

Mahmoud Bassal, a spokesperson for the agency, reported that nine people were killed in a drone strike on a camp for displaced people in southern Gaza.

Shaimaa al-Shaer, a resident of the camp, described an explosion occurring while preparing breakfast for her children.

Health officials at Nasser hospital, where victims of Israeli strikes were taken, stated that one of the strikes targeted tents sheltering displaced people in Khan Younis, in southern Gaza, resulting in four deaths. Another strike in the city killed four people, identified as a mother, father, and their two children.

In central Gaza, Israeli strikes reportedly killed 10 people and injured 72, according to Awda hospital in Nuseirat.

The IDF accuses Hamas of using civilians as human shields, a claim which Hamas denies.

Evacuations and Ceasefire Proposal

The IDF issued evacuation orders for additional neighborhoods of Khan Younis, displacing thousands before new Israeli attacks.

The current ceasefire proposal includes: - A phased release of 28 hostages - Israeli troop withdrawals from parts of Gaza - An increase in humanitarian aid to the territory - Discussions on ending the war

Hamas is seeking guarantees that Israel will not launch a new offensive after the 60-day truce. A previous ceasefire collapsed in March when Israel did not engage in negotiations for a second phase of the truce, which could have led to a permanent cessation of hostilities.

Israel has stated it will not agree to stop fighting until Hamas has released all 50 hostages it still holds, of whom more than half are reported dead, and disarms.

Palestinian sources indicated there are also differences regarding the entry and distribution of humanitarian aid in Gaza.

Perspectives from Israeli Officials

Senior Israeli officials have highlighted progress in the talks. Ze’ev Elkin, a member of Israel’s security cabinet, stated there was "a substantial chance" a ceasefire would be agreed, noting that "Hamas wants to change a few central matters; it’s not simple, but there is progress."

On Monday, Israel Katz, Israel’s defence minister, outlined plans to relocate Palestinians in Gaza to a camp on the ruins of Rafah. Katz stated he had ordered the IDF to prepare to set up a camp, referred to as a "humanitarian city", in Rafah. Israeli forces would control the perimeter, and initially relocate 600,000 Palestinians into the area, primarily those currently displaced in the Mawasi area. Katz was quoted as saying that eventually the entire population of Gaza would be housed there, and that Israel aimed to implement an emigration plan.

Humanitarian Impact

Gaza’s ministry of health has reported more than 57,000 deaths from the Israeli offensive, mostly civilians. The UN and several western governments consider this tally to be reliable.

The offensive has resulted in a severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with many facing famine and significant destruction of infrastructure.

The conflict began with a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel in October 2023, in which militants killed 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducted 250.