Qatar PM says only ‘minor’ challenges to Israel-Hamas captive deal | Israel-Palestine conflict News

Greater than 200 individuals are thought to have been taken to Gaza after Hamas’s assault on Israel on October 7.

Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani has stated that solely “minor” challenges stay to a deal to launch among the greater than 200 folks taken captive into Gaza after Hamas’s assault on Israel final month.

Sheikh Mohammed, a former overseas minister, gave few further particulars or a timeline.

“The challenges that stay within the negotiations are very minor in comparison with the larger challenges. They’re extra logistical; they’re extra sensible,” he instructed a joint press convention with the European Union’s overseas coverage chief Josep Borrell.

Qatar has been performing as an intermediary in negotiations to free these taken captive in Hamas’s shock assault on Israel on October 7, wherein at the least 1,200 folks had been killed.

After the assault, Israel launched a relentless air and ground campaign on the besieged Gaza Strip, bombarding the densely-populated territory in an effort to destroy Hamas. Greater than 13,000 folks have been killed within the weeks since.

Borrell, who was attributable to meet Qatar’s emir earlier than travelling to Jordan, referred to as for the “unconditional launch” of all captives and condemned Hamas for the assault.

“There’s no hierarchy between horrors, one horror doesn’t justify one other horror,” he stated, urging an finish to the escalating violence and the creation of “sustainable peace” within the area.

The Reuters information company reported on November 15 that Qatari mediators had been looking for a deal between Israel and Hamas to alternate 50 captives in return for a three-day ceasefire that will assist enhance emergency assist shipments to Gaza civilians, citing an official briefed on the talks.

On the time, the official stated normal outlines had been agreed, however that Israel was nonetheless negotiating particulars.

On Saturday, the Washington Submit newspaper reported a tentative settlement had been reached to free the ladies and kids among the many captives in alternate for a pause in preventing.

Citing unnamed sources, the newspaper stated all events would halt fight operations for at the least 5 days with the captives to be launched in small teams.

The US newspaper’s report was denied by the White Home, which stated discussions on a deal had been persevering with. On Sunday, United States President Joe Biden instructed reporters he was not ready to say when the captives may be freed. “I wish to be certain they’re out after which I’ll let you know,” he stated at an occasion in Virginia.

Sheikh Mohammed stated on Sunday that such experiences had been “counterproductive” and that the negotiating course of went by way of ups and downs.

“I believe that I’m now extra assured that we’re shut sufficient to succeed in a deal that may convey the folks safely again to their houses,” he stated.

The talks are persevering with as Israel prepares to increase its floor offensive towards Hamas into Gaza’s southern half.

The US, Israel’s major ally, has urged warning, as Gaza’s 2.3 million folks battle to search out anyplace protected to remain out of the road of fireplace.

The civilian demise toll in Gaza was “staggering and unacceptable,” United Nations Secretary-Normal Antonio Guterres stated on Sunday as he renewed his attraction for a direct humanitarian ceasefire.

Israel has to date refused all requires a ceasefire.