Qatar’s lead negotiator committed to reviving Gaza peace talks
Qatar, with the US and Egypt, brokered a truce in Gaza which came into force on January 15 and largely halted over a year of war
Qatar’s chief negotiator voiced frustration over talks for a truce in Gaza in an interview with Agence France-Presse, a month after Israel resumed its strikes on the Palestinian territory and another round of negotiations ended without a deal.
“We’re definitely frustrated by the slowness, sometimes, of the process in the negotiation. This is an urgent matter. There are lives at stake here if this military operation continues day by day,” Mohammed Al-Khulaifi said on Friday.
Qatar, with the United States and Egypt, brokered a truce in Gaza between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas which came into force on January 15 and largely halted over a year of war triggered by Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack on Israel.
The initial phase of the truce ended in early March, with the two sides unable to agree on the next steps.
Hamas has insisted that negotiations be held for a second phase to the truce, leading to a permanent end to the war, as outlined in the January framework.
Israel, which had called for an extension to the opening phase, resumed air and ground attacks across the Gaza Strip on March 18 after earlier halting the entry of aid.