Gaza Strip talks at a critical moment, Qatari PM says

Qatar’s prime minister says the Gaza Strip talks have reached a critical moment, with the remains of one Israeli hostage still held by militants.

Negotiations on consolidating a US-backed truce in the war in the Gaza Strip are at a “critical” moment, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani says.

Mediators are working to force the next phase of the ceasefire forward, al-Thani, whose country has been a key mediator in the war, said during a panel discussion at the Doha Forum conference in Qatar.

Violence has subsided but not stopped since the Gaza Strip truce took effect on October 10, and at least seven people were reported killed on Saturday.

“We are at a critical moment. It’s not yet there. So what we have just done is a pause,” al-Thani said.

“We cannot consider it yet a ceasefire. A ceasefire cannot be completed unless there is a full withdrawal of the Israeli forces – (until) there is stability back in Gaza, people can go in and out – which is not the case today.”

Negotiations on the next stages of US President Donald Trump’s plan to end the two-year war in the Palestinian enclave have been continuing.

The plan calls for an interim technocratic Palestinian government in the Gaza Strip, overseen by an international “board of peace” and backed by an international security force.

Agreeing on the makeup and mandate of that force has been particularly challenging.

International officials told the Associated Press on Friday that an international body overseeing the ceasefire is expected to be appointed by the end of the year.

In the long term, the plan also calls for a possible “pathway” to Palestinian independence.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said there is a “big question” over the formation of an international security force for the Gaza Strip.

Speaking at the conference, he said it is unclear which countries will join, what the command structure would look like and what its “first mission” will be.

On Thursday, an Israeli delegation held talks in Cairo with mediators on the return of the last hostage held in the strip, which would complete an initial part of Trump’s plan.

Since the truce started, Hamas has returned all 20 living hostages and 27 bodies in exchange for about 2000 Palestinian detainees and convicted prisoners.

Israel said this week it would open the Rafah Crossing for exit through Egypt soon, and that it would allow entry through Rafah into the Gaza Strip once the last remaining deceased hostage was returned.

Although fighting has diminished, Israel has continued to attack the enclave and demolish what it says is Hamas infrastructure.

Hamas and Israel have traded blame for violations.

Palestinian local health authorities said that Israeli fire had killed seven people in Beit Lahiya, Jabalia and Zeitoun in the north of the Gaza Strip on Saturday, including a 70-year-old woman who died in a drone strike.

The Israeli military said that in two separate incidents on Saturday, forces deployed in the strip’s north – behind the so-called yellow line of withdrawal agreed in the ceasefire – had fired on Palestinian militants who crossed the line, killing three.

The military was unaware of any drone strike, a spokesperson said.

with AP