Qatar, on Tuesday, urged both Israel and Hamas to come to terms on the release of hostages from the October 7 attack, highlighting the daily worsening of the situation in Gaza.
Addressing a news conference in Doha, Majed bin Mohammed Al-Ansari, spokesperson for the Qatar Ministry of Foreign Affairs, pointed out that the deteriorating situation in Gaza is obstructing mediation endeavors.
‘We believe that there is no other chance for both sides other than for this mediation to take place and to reach a situation where we can see a glimmer of hope in this terrible crisis’, he added.
The Gulf nation has taken the lead in negotiating the release of hostages and establishing a temporary ceasefire.
This initiative stems from the Hamas attack on southern Israel a month ago, resulting in the tragic loss of around 1,200 lives, predominantly civilians.Roughly 240 hostages were seized and returned to Gaza.
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In retaliation, Israel initiated an unrelenting air assault and subsequent ground incursion into Gaza, resulting in the tragic death of 11,240 people, predominantly civilians, including thousands of children, as reported by the Hamas-controlled government in the territory.
Hamas reported on Monday that Israel had put forth a demand for the liberation of 100 women and children hostages, offering 200 Palestinian children and 75 women held in Israeli prisons in exchange.
Abu Obeida, a spokesman for Hamas’s military wing, said the group informed mediators as many as 70 could be released “if we obtained five days of truce… and passage of aid to all of our people throughout the Gaza Strip.”
He noted a higher number of Israeli hostages could not be secured for release “because some are in the hands of different groups and factions” and accused Israel of dragging its feet.
It has used its channels with Hamas, established with US blessing, to play a lead role in the release of four of the hostages so far.Israeli leaders have reiterated that a comprehensive ceasefire is non-negotiable until the hostages are released.
Al-Ansari opted not to provide details on hostage negotiations but expressed the Gulf state’s optimism for additional releases as it engages in mediating between Hamas and Israel.
The affluent Gulf emirate, home to the largest US military base in the Middle East, also accommodates Hamas’s political office and serves as the primary residence for the self-exiled leader of the Islamists, Ismail Haniyeh.
Leveraging its established channels with Hamas, which have received US approval, it has taken a prominent role in securing the release of four hostages thus far.