Cairo: Egypt and Qatar have reaffirmed their commitment to ongoing mediation efforts aimed at ending the war in Gaza.
The Egyptian Foreign Ministry said on Friday that both countries are continuing intensive talks to secure an agreement that would halt the conflict, alleviate humanitarian suffering, protect civilians and facilitate the exchange of detainees and prisoners, Xinhua news agency reported.
The statement noted that some progress had been achieved in the latest round of negotiations, which began on 6 July. It described the current suspension of talks for consultations as a normal step in the context of such complex discussions.
Israel on Thursday recalled its negotiating team from Doha for consultations after receiving Hamas’s response to the latest ceasefire proposal. A senior Hamas official said mediators had informed the group that the Israeli delegation would return next week to resume talks.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement on Friday that his government was considering new options to secure the release of hostages held in Gaza.
The Israeli war in Gaza, ongoing since October 2023, has killed more than 59,210 Palestinians and injured over 143,040, according to Gaza health authorities. The humanitarian situation has worsened further as Israel continues to restrict the entry of goods and supplies into the enclave, causing widespread starvation.
US envoy Steve Witkoff said, “We have decided to bring our team home from Doha for consultations after the latest response from Hamas, which clearly shows a lack of desire to reach a ceasefire in Gaza. We will now consider alternative options to bring the hostages home and try to create a more stable environment for the people of Gaza.”
Netanyahu accused Hamas of obstructing a hostage release deal, a claim the group has rejected.
Tel Aviv estimates that of around 250 hostages taken by Hamas, 50 remain in Gaza, with 20 believed to be alive.
Palestinian and Israeli reports say more than 10,000 Palestinians are being held in Israeli prisons, where many detainees have died due to torture, starvation and medical neglect.
Since October 2023, Israel’s military has devastated Gaza, killing more than 59,700 people, mostly women and children, and leaving the health system in ruins while causing mass hunger and starvation.