More than 200 people were reportedly taken to Gaza after Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7.
Qatar Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said only “minor” challenges remained to a deal to release some of the more than 200 people captured in Gaza after Hamas’ attack on Israel on last month.
Sheikh Mohammed, former foreign minister, gave some additional details or a timetable.
“The remaining challenges in the negotiations are very minor compared to the larger challenges. They are more logistical; they are more practical,” he said at a joint news conference with European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell.
Qatar served as an intermediary in negotiations to release those captured during Hamas’ surprise attack on Israel on October 7, in which at least 1,200 people were killed.
After the attack, Israel launched a relentless air and ground campaign over the besieged Gaza Strip, bombarding the densely populated territory in a bid to destroy Hamas. More than 13,000 people were killed in the weeks that followed.
Borrell, who was due to meet Qatar’s emir before traveling to Jordan, called for the “unconditional release” of all prisoners and condemned Hamas for the attack.
“There is no hierarchy between horrors, one horror does not justify another horror,” he said, calling for an end to the escalation of violence and the creation of “peace sustainable” in the region.
The Reuters news agency reported on November 15 that Qatari mediators were seeking an agreement between Israel and Hamas to exchange 50 prisoners in exchange for a three-day ceasefire that would help increase deliveries of emergency aid to civilians in Gaza, citing an official briefed on the negotiations. .
At the time, the official said the broad outlines had been agreed upon, but Israel was still negotiating the details.
On Saturday, the Washington Post newspaper reported that a tentative agreement had been reached to release the captive women and children in exchange for a pause in the fighting.
Citing unnamed sources, the newspaper said all sides would stop combat operations for at least five days and captives would be released in small groups.
The American newspaper’s information was denied by the White House, which said discussions on an agreement were continuing. U.S. President Joe Biden told reporters on Sunday that he was unable to say when the captives might be released. “I want to make sure they’re out and then I’ll tell you,” he said at an event in Virginia.
Sheikh Mohammed said on Sunday that such reports were “counterproductive” and that the negotiation process had had its ups and downs.
“I think I’m now more confident that we’re close enough to reach an agreement that can get people home safely,” he said.
The talks continue as Israel prepares to expand its ground offensive against Hamas in the southern half of Gaza.
The United States, Israel’s main ally, has urged caution as Gaza’s 2.3 million residents struggle to find a safe place to stay out of the line of fire.
The civilian death toll in Gaza is “staggering and unacceptable,” United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Sunday, renewing his call for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire.
Israel has so far refused all calls for a ceasefire.