Internationally mediated cease-fire talks in Qatar are expected to enter their second day Friday in an effort to prevent the war in Gaza from spreading into a wider regional conflict. Representatives from Qatar and Egypt are engaged on behalf of Hamas, as the group is not directly participating. Meanwhile, Israel’s foreign minister is set to meet with counterparts from the United Kingdom and France to discuss preventing regional escalation.
The push for an end to the Israel-Hamas war comes as the Palestinian death toll in Gaza climbed past 40,000, according to Gaza health authorities. The United Nations chief believes the number is accurate or possibly an undercount. Mediators have been working on a three-phase plan involving the release of hostages captured in an attack triggering the war, a lasting cease-fire, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, and the release of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.
Egypt’s foreign minister emphasized the need for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza to prevent a wider regional war. Talks involving Egypt, Qatar, Israel, and the U.S. are ongoing in Doha to end the conflict. Tensions have escalated following recent killings of a Hezbollah military official in Beirut and Hamas leader in Tehran, with Iran and Hezbollah vowing retaliation.
Hezbollah released a video showing an underground tunnel with trucks carrying long-range missiles, signaling potential retaliation for an Israeli airstrike that killed a top military commander. The group has tens of thousands of rockets and missiles capable of hitting Israel. Norway announced the closure of its representative office in the Palestinian territories after Israel revoked accreditation of Norwegian diplomats, deeming the decision extreme and unreasonable.
Cease-fire talks in Doha are set to continue, with mediators committed to reaching an agreement that includes the release of hostages and increased humanitarian aid for Gaza.
