No advances in Gaza talks as delegation heads to Doha: Israeli media

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Al Mayadeen English + Israeli Media
3 Jan 2025 10:52

An Israeli delegation heads to Doha, Qatar, to resume talks and negotiations for a potential truce in Gaza.

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Palestinian children play next to a building destroyed by Israeli army strikes in the central Gaza Strip town of Khan Younis, on January 1, 2025. (AP)

An Israeli delegation headed to Qatar on Friday morning to resume negotiations, Israeli media reported, in yet another attempt to reach a prisoner exchange deal and a ceasefire agreement in Gaza.

According to Israeli Channel 12, sources familiar with the talks stated that progress has been made, but significant gaps remain unresolved and no breakthrough has been established for a deal.

Meanwhile, a Palestinian leader told Al Mayadeen on Thursday that Gaza ceasefire negotiations “are witnessing real development, as there are signs that a ceasefire agreement may be reached,” clarifying that the round that will be held in Doha on Friday, “is important and crucial in the negotiations.”

The Palestinian leader noted there were some main issues in need of further discussions, such as the Israeli captives, the Philadelphi Axis, the return of displaced Palestinians, and the resolution of the issue of Palestinian captives.

In the same context, “Israel’s” Walla news website reported Israeli officials as saying that the sending of a team to Doha is a last-minute attempt at advancing in the ceasefire talks.

A week ago, a Palestinian source told Al Mayadeen that the ongoing negotiations for a ceasefire in Gaza, mediated through intermediaries, "are progressing well but face obstacles that are not easy to overcome."

The leader confirmed that "despite the noise in the Israeli media, the negotiations are moving forward diligently through the mediators, and claims of their collapse are not true."

He explained that "the first obstacle is Israel's stance on withdrawing from the Philadelphi Corridor in the first phase."

He added that the second obstacle is "the occupation's refusal to release a number of prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment," while the third obstacle is "Israel's insistence on keeping its forces inside the Gaza Strip in the first phase."