2024-02-18 07:15:12
The latest progress in negotiations on a framework agreement for a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip in the conflict between Israel and the radical Palestinian movement “Hamas” is not “very promising”. This was stated today by the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, quoted by Reuters.
“The direction in which the negotiations are moving in the last few days is not really very promising, but, as I have always said, we remain optimistic and will continue to be persistent,” the prime minister said in the German city of Munich, where the international conference is taking place on security.
He indicated that he could not go into details of the negotiations, but, as before, there were two main points of discussion in the eventual agreement – the humanitarian conditions in Gaza and the number of Palestinian prisoners in Israel who would be exchanged with Hamas for Israeli hostages, writes BTA.
“I believe we will look at this agreement in a broader aspect. We still face some difficulties on the issue of the humanitarian side of the negotiations,” Sheikh Mohammed added.
He believes that if the contradictions concerning the humanitarian side are ironed out, then the second problem – with the number of exchanged prisoners and hostages – will automatically be solved, Reuters points out.
The Gaza ceasefire talks, which began in the Egyptian capital Cairo this week, involve representatives of Qatar, Israel, the US and Egypt.