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EGYPT said Wednesday (11/9) that ceasefire talks for the Gaza Strip in the Qatari capital Doha had ended and were in earnest, raising hopes for an end to months of fighting in the enclave.
Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and Egyptian intelligence director Abbas Kamel met with Hamas negotiators on Wednesday (11/9) to try to break the deadlock over hostage releases and a ceasefire in Gaza deal talks.
The meeting in Doha aims to try to get Hamas to reduce its new demands for the release of Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences in Israeli jails.
Meanwhile, the White House has been reassessing its strategy for the Gaza deal with top aides to President Joe Biden, considering whether it is worth putting forward a new proposal as Hamas and Israel have both taken more assertive positions in the negotiations.
A senior Israeli official said the talks were deadlocked and stressed that the Doha meeting would not change that. However, the US, Egypt and Qatar are still working on a new and updated liaison proposal to present to Israel and Hamas.
US skeptical
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“Over the past two weeks, the White House has become deeply skeptical about the possibility of reaching a deal anytime soon because of Hamas’s new demands,” U.S. officials said.
Read also: Hamas Sends Delegation to Gaza Talks in Cairo
Hamas official Osama Hamdan told Al Jazeera on Tuesday that Hamas had not added any new demands and the US should focus on pressuring Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Netanyahu has also put forward new demands, including the deployment of the Israel Defense Forces along the Egypt-Gaza border.
But US officials claim they could convince Netanyahu to significantly soften his new demands if Hamas drops theirs.
Read also: Ceasefire Still Stalled as Blinken Leaves Middle East
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and CIA Director Bill Burns have said in recent days that the U.S. could submit a new proposal in the coming days. But other U.S. officials said such a move was unlikely to happen soon.
Hamas confirmed the meeting in a statement on Wednesday, stressing to the Qatari and Egyptian leaders that Hamas was looking positively toward reaching a ceasefire deal that would include the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the entire Gaza Strip.
The statement said Hamas has no new demands and opposes any new demands from any party. “We gave our response to the mediators and we are interested in further mediation to reach an agreement,” the statement said.
Read also: Netanyahu Agrees to More Talks, Five Gazans Killed in Food Aid
A source familiar with the matter said Qatari and Egyptian mediators — after meetings with Hamas — felt it was possible to present a new US-Qatar-Egypt bridging proposal to the parties next week.
Biden’s advisers have met several times this week with senior officials in Qatar and Egypt. They see Hamas’s demands on the number of prisoners the group wants released as a major stumbling block in the current negotiations.
Israeli and U.S. officials say Hamas is demanding the release of 100 life-long prisoners, in addition to the 150 already agreed by the parties.
The officials added that the US asked Egypt and Qatar to increase pressure on Hamas to withdraw from its new demands.
White House spokesman John Kirby said the US, Egypt and Qatar were still trying to reach a proposal that both Israel and Hamas could agree to.
“What’s not clear to us is whether we’re going to achieve that goal or not and whether Hamas is going to come to the table with sincerity and sign something or not,” Kirby said. (Aljazeera/axios/Z-2)
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What are the key demands from Hamas in the Gaza Strip ceasefire talks?
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Gaza Strip Ceasefire Talks: Qatar, Egypt Urge Hamas to Lower Demands for Free Palestinian Prisoners
The Gaza Strip has been plagued by months of violence, with no end in sight. However, recent developments in the ceasefire talks have raised hopes for a potential resolution to the conflict. On Wednesday, Qatar and Egypt hosted a meeting with Hamas negotiators in Doha, aiming to break the deadlock over hostage releases and a ceasefire deal in the Gaza Strip.
Hamas’ Demands
The main point of contention lies in Hamas’ demands for the release of Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences in Israeli jails. According to sources, Hamas is demanding the release of 100 lifelong prisoners, a condition that Israel has refused to accept. The Qatari and Egyptian mediators are trying to persuade Hamas to lower its demands in hopes of reaching a mutually agreeable solution.
US Involvement
The White House has been reassessing its strategy for the Gaza deal, considering whether it is worth putting forward a new proposal as Hamas and Israel have both taken more assertive positions in the negotiations. Senior US officials have expressed skepticism about the possibility of reaching a deal anytime soon due to Hamas’ new demands.
Israeli Demands
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also put forward new demands, including the deployment of the Israel Defense Forces along the Egypt-Gaza border. The US has hinted that it could convince Netanyahu to soften his demands if Hamas drops its own.
Mediation Efforts
Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and Egyptian intelligence director Abbas Kamel met with Hamas negotiators on Wednesday to try to break the deadlock. The meeting aims to present a new and updated liaison proposal to Israel and Hamas. A source familiar with the matter said that Qatari and Egyptian mediators, after meetings with Hamas, felt it was possible to present a new US-Qatar-Egypt bridging proposal to the parties next week.
Previous Attempts
This is not the first time that mediators have attempted to broker a ceasefire deal in the Gaza Strip. Previous attempts, including talks in Cairo, have stalled due to disagreements over prisoner releases and other conditions.
Hope for a Resolution
Despite the challenges, officials remain hopeful that a resolution can be reached. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and CIA Director Bill Burns have said in recent days that the US could submit a new proposal in the coming days. Hamas has confirmed the meeting in a statement, stressing to the Qatari and Egyptian leaders that Hamas was looking positively toward reaching a ceasefire deal that would include the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the entire Gaza Strip.
Key Takeaways
Qatar and Egypt are urging Hamas to lower its demands for Palestinian prisoner releases
The US is reassessing its strategy for the Gaza deal due to Hamas’ new demands
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has put forward new demands, including the deployment of the Israel Defense Forces along the Egypt-Gaza border
Mediation efforts are ongoing, with a potential new proposal being presented to Israel and Hamas next week
* A resolution to the conflict is still uncertain, but officials remain hopeful that a deal can be reached.
Keywords: Gaza Strip, ceasefire talks, Hamas, Israel, Qatar, Egypt, prisoner releases, Benjamin Netanyahu, White House, US involvement, mediation efforts.
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– What impact could Hamas lowering its demands have on the ceasefire talks for Gaza?
Ceasefire Talks for Gaza Strip: Qatar and Egypt Urge Hamas to Lower Demands for Free Palestinian Prisoners
The ongoing ceasefire talks for the Gaza Strip have reached a critical juncture, with Qatar and Egypt urging Hamas to reduce its demands for the release of Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences in Israeli jails. The meeting in Doha, the Qatari capital, aims to break the deadlock in the negotiations, which have been stalled for months.
US Skeptical of Reaching a Deal
The White House has been reassessing its strategy for the Gaza deal, with top aides to President Joe Biden considering whether it is worth putting forward a new proposal. However, US officials have become deeply skeptical about the possibility of reaching a deal anytime soon due to Hamas’s new demands. The US has been working on a new and updated liaison proposal to present to Israel and Hamas, but it is unclear when this will happen.
What are the Key Demands from Hamas in the Gaza Strip Ceasefire Talks?
Hamas has made several key demands in the ceasefire talks, including the release of 100 life-long prisoners, in addition to the 150 already agreed upon by the parties. This has been a major stumbling block in the negotiations, with Israeli and US officials viewing these demands as unacceptable. Hamas has also called for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the entire Gaza Strip.
US and Israel’s Positions
The US has been trying to convince Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to soften his new demands, which include the deployment of the Israel Defense Forces along the Egypt-Gaza border. However, Netanyahu has been unwilling to budge, and the US has become increasingly frustrated with the lack of progress in the talks.
Qatar and Egypt’s Role
Qatar and Egypt have been playing a crucial role in mediating the talks, with Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and Egyptian intelligence director Abbas Kamel meeting with Hamas negotiators to try to break the deadlock. They are working on a new bridging proposal to present to the parties next week.
Hamas’s Position
Hamas has confirmed that it is looking positively toward reaching a ceasefire deal that would include the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the entire Gaza Strip. The group has denied adding new demands and opposes any new demands from any party. However, its refusal to budge on its key demands has made it difficult to reach a deal.
The Way Forward
The ceasefire talks for the Gaza Strip are at a critical juncture, with all parties needing to make concessions if a deal is to be reached. The US, Qatar, and Egypt need to put pressure on Hamas to withdraw its new demands, while Israel needs to soften its position on the deployment of its forces along the Egypt-Gaza border. Only then can a lasting ceasefire be achieved, bringing much-needed relief to the people of Gaza.
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* Netanyahu Agrees to More Talks, Five Gazans Killed in Food Aid
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