Hamas holds hostage, prisoner swap talks with Qatar, Egypt
What's the story
A delegation from the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas met with mediators from Qatar and Egypt in Doha on Wednesday. The meeting was convened to discuss potential hostage and prisoner exchanges. Khalil al-Hayya, Hamas's lead negotiator, held talks with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani and Egypt's intelligence chief Abbas Kamel. The discussions centered around "developments concerning the Palestinian cause and the aggression on the Gaza Strip."
Ceasefire readiness
Hamas reiterates readiness for ceasefire agreement
In a statement, Hamas expressed its "readiness for the immediate implementation of the ceasefire agreement based on President Joe Biden's declaration." The group also reiterated its demand for Israel's withdrawal from "all Gaza territories." They stated that they had not placed any additional demands on negotiators and were "rejecting any new conditions to this agreement from any party."
Ongoing negotiations
US, Egypt, Qatar engage in behind-the-scenes negotiations
The United States, Egypt, and Qatar have been engaged in behind-the-scenes negotiations for months. However, except for a one-week truce beginning in late November last year, they have failed to secure a halt to the war between Hamas and Israel that will on October 7 complete one year. Calls for a deal have intensified after Israeli authorities at the beginning of September announced the discovery of the bodies of six hostages.
Unyielding positions
Hamas, Israel maintain firm stance amid negotiations
Despite increasing external pressure for an agreement, both Hamas and Israel continue to maintain their respective positions. While Hamas is demanding Israel's exit from all of Gaza, Israel is seeking control of the Philadelphi Corridor on the Gaza-Egypt border. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insists that this control is crucial to prevent Hamas from rearming, a claim rejected by both Egypt and Qatar last week.