Gaza ceasefire talks in Doha enter 2nd day as death toll due to Israeli strikes tops 40,000

CAIRO – 16 August 2024: Mediators from Egypt, Qatar, and the United States are poised to continue negotiations in Doha for the second day in an effort to secure a ceasefire in Gaza after Israeli strikes have killed over 40,000 people since October 7.

The talks, which commenced on Thursday following a joint initiative by the leaders of the three nations, are focused on narrowing the gaps between Hamas and Israel to address remaining issues crucial for a much-needed ceasefire deal to quell regional tensions.

Egyptian negotiators and Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani are participating in the talks.

Representing Israel during the talks are Mossad chief David Barnea, Director of the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) Ronen Bar, and Nitzan Alon, the Israeli army’s negotiator, as reported by Reuters.

Additionally, the United States has dispatched CIA Director Bill Burns and US Middle East envoy Brett McGurk.

However, Hamas opted out of Thursday's talks, citing a lack of good-faith negotiations from the Israeli government to broker a deal.

Ahmed Abdul Hadi, Hamas's representative in Lebanon, conveyed this week that the movement's leadership perceives Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's intentions as prolonging the war and expanding it regionally.

A high-level source informed Al Qahera News on Thursday that the Egyptian security delegation reiterated Egypt’s keenness on swiftly achieving a ceasefire and securing an agreement for the release of captives and prisoners.

The source further stated that the first day of discussions, lasting over seven hours, saw all parties demonstrating genuine intent to reach an agreement.

The White House has expressed optimism that the talks could bridge the remaining gaps, deeming Thursday's negotiations as "a promising start."

“The remaining obstacles can be overcome, and we must bring this process to a close,” White House National Security Spokesperson John Kirby told reporters at the White House.

“We need to see the hostages released, relief for Palestinian civilians in Gaza, security for Israel, and lower tensions in the region. And we need to see those things as soon as possible,” Kirby added.

Striving for de-escalation

The leaders of Egypt, Qatar and the US and their negotiations have stepped up their efforts aimed at reaching a ceasefire and a prisoner swap deal, in a bid to stop the war, which has extended for more than 10 months.

The Israeli war has resulted in a devastating toll, with 40,005 fatalities, 92,401 injuries, the displacement of most of Gaza's 2.2 million inhabitants, and the enclave facing the looming threat of famine.

The war was triggered by a Hamas attack on Israeli communities near Gaza on October 7, during which Palestinian fighters captured around 250 Israelis and foreign nationals.

In November, a prisoner exchange brokered by Egypt, Qatar, and the US resulted in the release of about 100 Israeli captives in return for about 240 Palestinian prisoners.

Israel managed to rescue seven captives in Gaza over the past months. However, unrelenting Israeli strikes have led to the deaths of some of the roughly 100 captives still held in Gaza.

The stepped-up efforts to reach a ceasefire also arrive against the backdrop of an increasingly turbulent regional climate.

Israel and the US are on high alert for imminent retaliatory actions from Iran against Israeli targets following the recent assassinations of senior Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut and Hamas political bureau leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran by Israeli forces.

Heightened tensions have been exacerbated by warnings from Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen, both supported by Iran and longstanding adversaries of Israel, threatening severe repercussions in response to the recent killings.