In the past few days, discussions on a possible cease-fire deal in Gaza “have not been progressing as expected”, said key mediator Qatar. The development has come after good progress in talks in recent weeks.
Speaking during the Munich Security Conference, the Prime Minister of Qatar, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdurrahman Al Thani, stated difficulties in the “humanitarian part” of the negotiations.
The prime minister of Israel accused the Hamas militant group of not changing its “delusional” demands. Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said that earlier in the week he sent a delegation for cease-fire talks in Cairo at United States President Joe Biden’s request but doesn’t see the point in sending them again.
Netanyahu is under pressure to bring home the remaining hostages taken in the October 7 Hamas attack. In Gaza, Hamas wants a permanent cease-fire and the release of Palestinians held by Israel.
Meanwhile, on Saturday, new airstrikes in central Gaza killed more than 40 people, including children, and wounded at least 50, according to Associated Press journalists and hospital officials. Israel’s army stated that it carried out strikes there against Hamas.
On Saturday, the Gaza Health Ministry raised the overall death toll in Gaza to 28,858. He said that the bodies of 83 people killed in Israeli bombardments were brought to hospitals in the past 24 hours.
Air and ground attacks by Israel were triggered by the October 7, 2023 attack that killed nearly 1,200 people in Israel and took 250 others hostage.