Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said on Saturday that negotiations to cement a US-backed cease-fire in the Gaza war are at a “critical” juncture, according to Reuters.
In a panel discussion at the Doha Forum meeting in Qatar, al-Thani, whose country is the main mediator in the war, said mediators were working to force the next phase of the ceasefire.
Since the Gaza ceasefire agreement entered into force on October 10, the violence has subsided but has not stopped.
“We are at a critical moment. We are not there yet. So what we have just done is a pause,” Al Thani said. “We cannot yet consider this a ceasefire. A ceasefire will not be complete until Israeli forces are fully withdrawn – until stability returns to Gaza and people can move in and out – which is not the case today.”
Since the start of the ceasefire, Hamas has returned all 20 living hostages and 27 bodies in exchange for approximately 2,000 Palestinian detainees and convicted prisoners.
Israel continues to attack Gaza and continues to destroy what it calls Hamas infrastructure.
Palestinian local health officials said Saturday that five people were killed in Israeli-fired fires in Beit Rahiya and Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip.