Qatar says Hamas has not yet responded to Gaza truce plan | World News

Hamas Still to Give Response on Gaza Truce Plan, Says Qatar

Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesman, Majed al-Ansari, revealed on Thursday that Hamas has yet to provide a response to a proposed ceasefire plan with Israel in Gaza, as well as an exchange of hostages and prisoners. Despite ongoing mediation efforts, Hamas has not indicated its stance on the latest proposal.

Qatar, along with the United States and Egypt, has been involved in extensive negotiations for a ceasefire in Gaza. However, apart from a brief seven-day pause in November that resulted in the release of over 100 hostages, the conflict has persisted.

US President Joe Biden recently announced a new three-stage roadmap offered by Israel to restart talks. Egypt has reported receiving positive signals from Hamas regarding a potential deal with Israel, following meetings between Hamas representatives, Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, and Egypt’s intelligence chief Abbas Kamel in Doha.

Despite these developments, senior Hamas official Osama Hamdan expressed skepticism about the proposed framework outlined by President Biden, stating that there has been no concrete proposal presented by the Americans.

In parallel efforts, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry held discussions with Biden’s top Middle East adviser, Brett McGurk, in Cairo on Thursday. The situation remains fluid as stakeholders continue to navigate the complexities of the conflict in Gaza.