Relatives and supporters of Israelis held hostage in Gaza since October 2023 stage a protest calling for a deal with Hamas to secure their release, in front of the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem on Jan 14. (Photo: AFP)
JERUSALEM – A “final round” of Gaza truce talks is due to start on Tuesday in Qatar, said a source briefed on the negotiations aimed at ending the Israel-Hamas war after more than 15 months.
Meditators Qatar, Egypt and the United States have intensified efforts to seal a ceasefire that would facilitate the release of hostages held in Gaza since Hamas’s Oct 7, 2023 attack on Israel that sparked the war.
On Monday, US President Joe Biden said a ceasefire and hostage release deal was “on the brink” of being finalised, even as heavy fighting rocked Gaza.
The Hamas attack, the deadliest in Israel’s history, resulted in the deaths of 1,210 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of official Israeli figures.
On that day, militants also took 251 people hostage, 94 of whom are still being held in Gaza, including 34 the Israeli military says are dead.
Since the Israel-Hamas war erupted, 31 Thais have been taken hostage, with 23 released so far. Two were confirmed dead last May, leaving six still in Hamas’ custody. Their current status is not known.
Israel’s retaliatory campaign in Gaza has killed 46,584 people, a majority of them civilians, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory, figures that the UN considers reliable.
“A final round of talks is expected to take place today in Doha,” the source briefed on the talks told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the negotiations.
The source said Tuesday’s m
Read More