Qatar’s Prime Minister has reported that efforts to establish a new ceasefire in Gaza have shown some promise, yet a formal agreement between Israel and Hamas to conclude the conflict remains out of reach.
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“We noticed some progress on Thursday compared to earlier meetings. However, we must answer the fundamental question: how do we end this war? This is the crux of the negotiations,” stated Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, who concurrently holds the position of Foreign Minister.
In a related development, Mossad Director David Barnea visited Doha on Thursday for discussions with Sheikh Mohammed as part of ongoing efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza, as reported by Axios.
While Sheikh Mohammed refrained from specifying which aspects of the ceasefire discussions had advanced recently, he noted that Hamas and Israel remained divided on the primary objectives of the negotiations. “When there isn’t a shared goal among the parties, the chances of concluding this conflict become quite slim,” he emphasized during a press conference alongside Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.
In his remarks, Mr. Fidan revealed that conversations held by Turkish officials with Hamas suggested that the group might be open to an agreement that surpasses a mere ceasefire, potentially paving the way for a lasting resolution to the crisis with Israel, including a two-state solution.
Subsequently, a Turkish diplomatic source indicated that Mr. Fidan had met with senior Hamas officials in Doha to discuss the progress of ceasefire negotiations and the humanitarian conditions in Gaza. “The Hamas representatives conveyed their commitment to pursuing a lasting ceasefire, sharing insights from recent meetings,” the source remarked, adding that Mr. Fidan reiterated Turkey’s dedication to ongoing international and bilateral efforts aimed at achieving peace in Gaza.
As the humanitarian crisis escalates, the health ministry in Gaza has reported that the death toll from the conflict has risen to over 52,000. “An additional 697 individuals have been added to the cumulative statistics after being documented and verified by the committee overseeing missing persons,” the ministry stated, bringing the confirmed total to 52,243. Notably, several United Nations agencies operating in Gaza have found the ministry’s data credible, often referencing it in their reports.
In confirming the figures, a hospital in the region explained the process by which the casualties were verified. “Families of those reported missing informed authorities of their loved ones’ disappearances, but their remains were subsequently recovered from rubble or previously inaccessible areas due to ongoing military operations,” noted Khalil al-Daqran, spokesperson for Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital.
He further explained that the statistic release of 697 individuals came after completion of a “judicial committee” tasked with collecting and verifying data, officially recognizing their status from missing persons to martyrs. When questioned about the sizeable update, the Media Office of the Hamas government cited the procedural nature of statistical releases, indicating that data is compiled periodically rather than daily. “The judicial committee adheres to its own protocols, and once the report is finalized, it is officially acknowledged,” clarified Ismail al-Thawabta, the director general of the Media Office.
As Gaza continues to face devastation after more than 18 months of war, the health ministry has encountered challenges in accurately assessing the death toll. Although Israel has repeatedly contested the validity of the figures disseminated by the ministry, criticizing the Gaza authorities for not differentiating between combatants and civilians, both the Israeli military and top officials have not disputed the overall magnitude of the toll.
In a harrowing development, Gaza’s civil defense agency has reported that the latest Israeli strikes have resulted in at least eight fatalities, including a 17-year-old due to an attack on a southern town. The renewed military campaign initiated by Israel on March 18 followed the collapse of a ceasefire agreement that had previously curtailed hostilities for two months, stemming from disagreements with the Palestinian militant group Hamas, whose attack in October triggered the war.
The Hamas incursion on October 7, 2023, claimed the lives of 1,218 individuals, the majority being civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures. Militants also abducted 251 individuals, with 58 still reported as held in Gaza, including 34 individuals whom the Israeli military has confirmed are deceased.
Israel maintains that the renewed military operations aim to compel Hamas to release the remaining captives. Civil defense spokesperson Mahmud Bassal reported, “At least eight people have been killed, with numerous others injured due to Israeli airstrikes since dawn.” He detailed that three civilians lost their lives in Gaza City’s Zeitun neighborhood and three more perished in a strike on a residential building in the central Bureij refugee camp. Further casualties included two individuals in Khan Younis, one of whom was a teenager struck in Khuzaa, along with another victim from an attack on fishing boats off the coast.
In a separate incident near Khan Younis, a strike injured at least 12 individuals, most of whom were children, according to the civil defense spokesman.
Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times International – Monitoring.
