Rabat – Mediating parties Qatar, Egypt, and the United States have issued a joint upbeat statement about the latest round of ceasefire talks in Doha, stressing that discussions were “serious, constructive, and conducted in a positive atmosphere.”
The statement noted, “Over the past 48 hours in Doha, senior officials from our governments have engaged in intensive talks as mediators with the aim of concluding an agreement for a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages and detainees.”
Mediators presented a proposal that “narrows the gaps” between both parties, it added, noting that the proposal aligns with principles set forth by US President Joe Biden in May and the guidelines of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2735.
Hamas, which was not present in the Doha talks, has refused to participate in new negotiations that do not build upon the agreement initially presented by Biden and endorsed by the UN Security Council. The Palestinian group has notably rejected Israel’s introduction of new terms and conditions, accusing PM Benjamin Netanyehu of obstructing the process and hindering progress towards a resolution.
Yet the joint statement emphasized the urgency of reaching an agreement, stating that “there is no more time to waste and no excuses for further delay that can be accepted by any party.”
It stressed, “It is time to release the hostages and detainees, to begin the ceasefire, and to implement this agreement.”
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The mediators said they have laid out a clear path toward finalizing the agreement, which includes comprehensive humanitarian provisions for Gaza as well as arrangements for the release of hostages and detainees. Technical teams from the involved nations will continue to work on the details of implementation in the coming days.
The joint statement also revealed that senior officials from the US, Egypt, and Qatar are scheduled to reconvene in Cairo before the end of next week, with the hope of finalizing the terms discussed in Doha. “It is time to release the hostages and detainees, to begin the ceasefire, and to implement this agreement,” the statement urged.
The tone of the statement reflects a cautious optimism that has not been as evident in previous rounds of talks. Reporting from Doha, Al Jazeera’s Mohammed Jamjoom noted, “The language [in the ceasefire statement] suggests that the mediators are far more optimistic today than they have been leading into these talks.”
US President Biden has similarly welcomed and cautiously hailed the progress of truce talks, telling reporters: “We are closer than we’ve ever been … but we’re not there yet.”
