Egypt announced on Wednesday that the Gaza Strip cease-fire talks in Doha concluded with serious discussions, offering hope for ending the months-long war.
A high-level source cited by Cairo News Channel confirmed the participation of Egyptian Intelligence Chief Abbas Kamel, Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, and a Hamas delegation led by Khalil al-Hayya.
The talks were described as serious and a potential sign of hope for resolving the crisis, although no details were provided.
For months, the US, Qatar, and Egypt have been trying to broker an agreement between Israel and Hamas for a prisoner exchange and cease-fire, allowing humanitarian aid into Gaza.
However, mediation efforts have stalled due to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s refusal to meet Hamas’ demands to stop the war.
Israel has continued its offensive on Gaza since an attack last October, despite a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire.
Nearly 41,100 people, mostly women and children, have been killed, and more than 95,000 injured, according to local health authorities.
The Israeli onslaught has displaced almost the entire population of Gaza, leading to severe shortages of food, clean water, and medicine.
Israel faces accusations of genocide for its actions in Gaza at the International Court of Justice.