Hamas calls Qatar ceasefire talks ‘serious and positive’ as diplomacy gains momentum
A Palestinian man inspects the site of an Israeli strike on a house, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, in Nuseirat, central Gaza Strip, on Dec 11, 2024. (Photo: REUTERS/Abd Elhkeem Khaled)
Hamas stated on Tuesday that discussions in Qatar regarding a potential ceasefire and a hostage-prisoner exchange were “serious and positive.”
The remarks come after Israeli officials arrived in Doha on Monday to engage with mediators from Qatar and Egypt.
In its statement, Hamas said an agreement for a ceasefire and exchange remains achievable “if the occupation ceases to impose new conditions.”
The ongoing meetings follow a recent visit by Mossad head David Barnea to Doha, signaling intensified diplomatic efforts.
Qatar, alongside the United States and Egypt, has been facilitating months of behind-the-scenes negotiations. Despite earlier efforts, only a brief one-week pause occurred last November, during which hostages held by Hamas were exchanged for Palestinians in Israeli prisons.
Israel’s Defense Minister, Israel Katz, indicated on Monday that negotiators are closer to an agreement now than at any point since November 2023.
Similarly, a senior Hamas official in Doha acknowledged that progress had been made but cautioned that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could still “disrupt the agreement,” citing previous instances of stalled negotiations.
The talks remain sensitive, with both sides seeking to bridge remaining gaps amid the ongoing conflict.
