Differences between Hamas and Israel need to be resolved before a hostage deal can be reached, the Qatari prime minister stated. Qatar has been spearheading mediation efforts to prompt an agreement leading to the release of several hostages, particularly children and women, with a proposed five-day humanitarian pause to transport the hostages.
Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, along with Josep Borrell, the EU’s external affairs chief, announced that practical and logistical challenges remain. However, there has been significant progress in recent days. There is a growing confidence in reaching an agreement to safely return the hostages to their homes.
The White House deputy national security adviser, Jon Finer, expressed optimism that an agreement to free more than 12 hostages would also include an extended pause in fighting and the distribution of humanitarian aid in Gaza. An incremental release is expected to mark the first step to ease the situation since Hamas captured more than 200 hostages.
Hamas has reported Israeli bombings resulting in the death of 30 hostages, but these claims are yet to be verified independently. Reports suggest that Israel, the US, and Hamas militants have tentatively agreed to free dozens of women and children held hostage in Gaza in return for a five-day pause in the conflict.
Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, denied any agreement. There is uncertainty within the Israeli government about the proposed deal, with some arguing in favor of accepting it, while others emphasize that Israel should hold out for better terms.
Despite conflicting statements, negotiations continue amid efforts to secure a humanitarian pause and secure the release of the hostages. The International Committee of the Red Cross is involved in verifying the identity of hostages. Humanitarian agencies are preparing to rush emergency aid into Gaza if a humanitarian pause is agreed, despite facing logistical challenges.
Al Thani criticized Israel, expressing concern about the worsening situation in Gaza and accusing the international community of failing to curb the aggression. The EU’s Josep Borrell drew attention to the need for a political solution and stressed the importance of avoiding further deaths.
Arab states have positioned aid for Gaza, attempting to ensure the flow of goods and address the urgent needs of the people. Qatar has emerged as a key negotiator in the region and praised for contributing to peace efforts by resolving crises in various parts of the world.
In addition to the ongoing negotiations, the situation in the Red Sea escalated, with Yemen’s Houthis claiming to have seized an Israeli ship and taken it to a Yemeni port. However, Israel contends that the ship captured had no Israeli owners or crew.
