Talks in Doha to focus on cease-fire, withdrawal of Israeli army from Gaza, return of displaced people, says Palestinian group
The Palestinian group Hamas on Friday announced the resumption of indirect negotiations with Israel in the Qatari capital Doha, focusing on the Gaza cease-fire, the withdrawal of the Israeli army from Gaza and the return of displaced people.
At a press conference on Friday evening, Basem Naim, a senior political leader in Hamas, reiterated the group's "seriousness and positivity and its endeavor to reach (a cease-fire) agreement as soon as possible."
He added that ending the aggression and protecting Palestinians amid the ongoing genocide and ethnic cleansing by Israel would top the negotiations' agenda.
Mediation efforts led by the US, Egypt, and Qatar to reach a cease-fire in Gaza have so far failed due to Israeli Premier Benjamin Netanyahu's refusal to halt the war.
Israel holds over 10,300 Palestinian prisoners, while Hamas is said to be holding around 100 Israeli captives in Gaza. The group also said that dozens of captives had died in indiscriminate Israeli airstrikes.
The Israeli army has continued a genocidal war on Gaza that has killed over 45,650 victims, mostly women and children, since Oct. 7, 2023 despite a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire.
In November 2024, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.
*Writing by Ahmed Asmar in Ankara
