GAZA CITY:
Qatar announced on Sunday that there had been some progress in the recent negotiations in Doha aimed at reaching a new ceasefire agreement in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.
During a press conference, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani confirmed “some progress” following a reported meeting on Thursday with Mossad chief David Barnea. Sheikh Mohammed emphasized the primary objective of the talks: βWe must find a way to end this war. That is the central focus of all negotiations.”
Qatar, working alongside Egypt and the United States, had earlier helped broker a temporary truce between Israel and Hamas that began on January 19. However, the agreement was short-lived, ending in early March when both sides failed to agree on further steps. Israel resumed its military operations on March 18 after aid deliveries were halted.
Hamas has indicated a willingness to agree to a deal that would include the release of all hostages and a five-year ceasefire, a group official told AFP on Saturday as negotiations continued in Cairo.
The Qatari Prime Minister noted that current efforts aim to reach “the most comprehensive agreement possible” β one that ends the war and secures the release of hostages without splitting the process into multiple phases.
Hamas has been firm in demanding that any agreement must lead to a permanent cessation of hostilities. The group reportedly rejected an Israeli proposal offering a 45-day truce in exchange for the release of 10 hostages.
Meanwhile, the health ministry in Hamas-governed Gaza reported on Sunday that the warβs death toll had risen to over 52,000, after confirming hundreds of individuals previously listed as missing.
An additional 697 deaths were officially recorded after a committee overseeing missing persons completed its verification process, bringing the total to 52,243 fatalities.
United Nations agencies operating in Gaza have recognized the health ministry’s data as credible and frequently cite it in their reports.
Khalil al-Daqran, spokesperson for Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, explained that many bodies were recovered from under rubble or areas that were previously inaccessible due to Israeli military operations.
The Hamas Media Office clarified that such updates are released periodically, following official procedures established by the judicial committee tasked with monitoring casualties. “The committee finalizes its reports periodically, not daily,” said Ismail al-Thawabta, director general of the office.
With vast areas of Gaza devastated after nearly 18 months of conflict, maintaining accurate casualty figures has become increasingly challenging.
