Negotiations for resuming Gaza pause still ongoing, says Qatar

By Ibrahim Al-Khazen

CAIRO (AA) – Qatar said on Friday that negotiations between the Israeli and Palestinian sides for the resumption of the humanitarian pause in Gaza are still ongoing.

In a statement, the Foreign Ministry said that Qatar “expresses its deep regret at the resumption of the Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip following the end of the humanitarian pause, without reaching an agreement to extend it.”

The ministry confirmed that “negotiations between the two sides are continuing with the aim of returning to a state of pause.”

It also clarified Qatar “is committed, along with its mediation partners, to continuing the efforts that led to the humanitarian pause, and will not hesitate to do everything necessary to return to calm.”

The ministry stressed that “the continued bombing of the Gaza Strip in the first hours after the end of the pause complicates mediation efforts and exacerbates the humanitarian catastrophe in the strip.”

It called on “the international community to move quickly to stop the violence.”

Qatar reiterated its “condemnation of all forms of targeting civilians, the practice of collective punishment, and attempts to forcibly displace citizens of the besieged Gaza Strip, and its demand for an immediate cease-fire and ensuring the continuous and unhindered flow of relief convoys and humanitarian aid.”

At least 32 Palestinians were killed and several others injured in Israeli airstrikes on the blockaded Gaza Strip within three hours after the humanitarian pause ended on Friday morning, the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza announced.

The pause between Israel and Hamas, which went into effect on Nov. 24, ended on Friday morning.

*Writing by Ikram Kouachi