Negotiations between Israel and Hamas aimed at de-escalating war

Qatar-mediated
negotiations between Israel and Hamas aimed at de-escalating
fighting in Gaza continued on Saturday, a source briefed on the
negotiations said, even as Israel intensified its assault on the
enclave.
Talks have not broken down, but are taking place at a “much
slower pace” than before the escalation from Friday evening, the
source told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity due to
the sensitivity of negotiations.
Gaza’s besieged people had barely any communications with
the outside world on Saturday as Israeli jets dropped more bombs
on the Hamas-ruled Palestinian enclave and military chiefs said
a long-threatened ground offensive was gearing up.
Qatar has been conducting behind-the-scenes diplomacy for
more than three weeks, speaking to Hamas officials and Israel to
promote peace and secure the release of more than 200 hostages
Hamas and other armed groups are holding in Gaza.
Qatar’s mediation last week led to the release of two
American hostages, a mother and daughter, and two elderly
Israeli women.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday
that efforts to secure the hostages’ release will continue even
during the Gaza ground offensive.
“We will utilize and exhaust every possibility to bring
them home,” Netanyahu said.
Earlier, the armed wing of Hamas said it had been close
to reaching an agreement with Israel over the hostages, but
Israel had “stalled” on that possibility.
Abu Ubaida, spokesman for the Izz el-Deen al-Qassam
Brigades, also said in a video speech the group would only
release all its hostages if Israel freed all Palestinian
prisoners.
Israel says 1,400 people, mostly civilians, were killed
during the Hamas-led raid on Oct. 7 and 224 hostages were
captured, many with foreign passports from 25 different
countries.
Israel has bombed and attacked Gaza over the last three
weeks more intensely than ever before and Palestinian health
authorities say Israel’s attacks have killed more than 7,000
Palestinians in Hamas-run Gaza.
Qatar, a tiny but wealthy energy and investment powerhouse
that holds ambitious foreign policy goals, has a direct line of
communication with Hamas, which has a political office in Doha.
Qatari envoys have previously helped mediate truces between the
Islamist group and Israel.