Mediators Are Set To Hold New Gaza Cease-Fire Talks, Hoping To Head Off An Even Wider War

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DOHA, Qatar (AP) — International mediators were group to clasp a caller information of talks Thursday aimed astatine halting nan Israel-Hamas warfare and securing nan merchandise of scores of hostages, pinch a imaginable woody seen arsenic nan champion dream of heading disconnected an moreover larger location conflict.

The United States, Qatar and Egypt were to meet pinch an Israeli delegation successful Qatar arsenic nan Palestinian decease toll from the 10-month-old war nears 40,000, according to section wellness authorities. Hamas has not said whether it will participate, accusing Israel of adding caller demands to a erstwhile connection that had U.S. and world support and to which Hamas had agreed successful principle.

A cease-fire successful Gaza would apt calm tensions crossed nan region. Diplomats dream it would seduce Iran and Lebanon’s Hezbollah to clasp disconnected connected retaliating for nan sidesplitting of a apical Hezbollah commandant successful an Israeli airstrike successful Beirut and of Hamas’ apical governmental leader successful an detonation successful Tehran.

The mediators person spent months trying to hammer retired a three-phase plan successful which Hamas would merchandise scores of hostages captured successful nan Oct. 7 onslaught that triggered nan warfare successful speech for a lasting cease-fire, nan withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and nan merchandise of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.

Both sides person agreed successful rule to nan plan, which U.S. President Joe Biden announced connected May 31. But Hamas has projected “amendments” and Israel has suggested “clarifications,” starring each broadside to impeach nan different of making caller demands it cannot accept.

Relatives and supporters of Israeli hostages held by Hamas successful Gaza clasp photos of their loved ones during a protestation calling for their return successful Tel Aviv, Israel, connected Aug. 15, 2024.
Relatives and supporters of Israeli hostages held by Hamas successful Gaza clasp photos of their loved ones during a protestation calling for their return successful Tel Aviv, Israel, connected Aug. 15, 2024.

AP Photo/Ariel Schalit

Hamas has rejected Israel’s latest demands, which see a lasting subject beingness on nan separator pinch Egypt and a statement bisecting Gaza wherever it would hunt Palestinians returning to their homes to guidelines retired militants. Hamas spokesperson Osama Hamdan told The Associated Press nan group is only willing successful discussing nan implementation of Biden’s connection and not successful further negotiations complete its content.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denies Israel has made caller demands, but he has besides many times raised questions complete whether nan cease-fire would last, saying Israel remains committed to “total victory” against Hamas and nan merchandise of each nan hostages.

The 2 sides are besides divided complete nan specifications of nan hostage-prisoner exchange, including who among nan Palestinian prisoners would beryllium eligible for merchandise and whether they would beryllium sent into exile. Hamas has demanded nan merchandise of high-profile militants convicted of orchestrating attacks that killed Israelis.

The astir intractable conflict has been complete nan modulation from nan first shape of nan cease-fire — erstwhile women, children and different susceptible hostages would beryllium released ― and nan second, erstwhile captive Israeli soldiers would beryllium freed and a imperishable cease-fire would return hold.

Hamas is concerned that Israel will resume nan warfare aft nan first batch of hostages is released. Israel worries that Hamas will resistance retired nan talks connected releasing nan remaining hostages indefinitely. Hamdan provided documents showing Hamas had agreed to a U.S. bridging connection nether which talks connected nan modulation would statesman by nan 16th time of nan first shape and reason by nan 5th week.

More recently, Hamas has objected to what it says are caller Israeli demands to support a beingness on nan Gaza-Egypt separator and a roadworthy dividing bluish and confederate Gaza. Israel denies these are caller demands, saying it needs a beingness on nan separator to forestall weapons smuggling and that it must hunt Palestinians returning to bluish Gaza to guarantee they are not armed.

The demands were only made nationalist recently. Hamas has demanded a afloat Israeli subject withdrawal, which was besides portion of each erstwhile versions of nan cease-fire proposal, according to documents shared pinch nan AP that were verified by officials progressive successful nan negotiations.

The warfare began erstwhile Hamas-led militants stormed crossed nan heavy guarded separator connected Oct. 7 successful an onslaught that shocked Israel’s vaunted information and intelligence services. The fighters rampaged done farming communities and service bases, sidesplitting immoderate 1,200 people, mostly civilians.

They abducted different 250 people. Over 100 were released during a weeklong cease-fire successful November, and astir 110 are believed to still beryllium wrong Gaza, though Israeli authorities judge astir a 3rd of them died connected Oct. 7 aliases successful captivity. Seven were rescued successful subject operations.

Israel’s retaliatory violative has killed astir 40,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not opportunity really galore were militants. The violative has near a swath of demolition crossed nan territory and driven nan immense mostly of Gaza’s 2.3 cardinal group from their homes, often aggregate times.

Successive removal orders and subject operations person driven hundreds of thousands of group into a alleged humanitarian area on nan seashore wherever they unrecorded successful crowded shelter camps pinch fewer services. Aid groups person struggled to present nutrient and supplies, prompting warnings of famine.

Hamas has suffered awesome losses, but its fighters person many times managed to regroup, moreover successful heavy destroyed areas wherever Israeli forces had antecedently operated. Its apical leader and 1 of nan architects of nan Oct. 7 attack, Yahya Sinwar, is still believed to beryllium live and hiding wrong Gaza, apt sheltering successful Hamas’ immense passageway network.

Hezbollah has meantime traded occurrence pinch Israel on nan separator successful what nan Lebanese militant group says is simply a support beforehand for its ally, Hamas. Other Iran-backed groups crossed nan region person attacked Israeli, American and world targets, drafting retaliation.

Iran and Israel traded occurrence straight for nan first clip successful April, aft Iran retaliated for an evident Israeli onslaught connected its embassy compound successful Syria that killed 2 Iranian generals. Many fearfulness a repetition aft nan sidesplitting of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, who was visiting Iran for nan inauguration of its caller president. The detonation was wide blamed connected Israel. Israel has not said whether it was involved.

Hezbollah has meantime vowed to avenge nan sidesplitting of its commander, Fouad Shukur, raising fears of an moreover much devastating sequel to nan 2006 warfare betwixt Israel and nan militant group.

Still, Iran and Hezbollah opportunity they do not want a full-blown war, and a cease-fire successful Gaza could supply an off-ramp aft days of escalating threats and a massive subject build-up crossed nan region.

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Goldenberg reported from Tel Aviv, Israel.

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