DOHA: Negotiators were to meet in Doha again on Friday in an effort to hammer out a Gaza truce deal as Israel continued to hit Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Gaza health ministry said on Thursday that the death toll there had surpassed 40,000 people during the ongoing conflict between Hamas and Israel.
This round of talks opened on Thursday, and the talks would resume today for a second day, US and Qatari officials said.
A US official briefed on the talks in Doha told Reuters on the condition of anonymity that Thursday’s dialogues were constructive. US national security spokesperson John Kirby told media person at the White House that this was vital work and the remaining obstacles could be addressed, and they must bring this process to a close.
Meanwhile, Israel pressed its brutal assault on the Gaza Strip. Gaza health ministry said around six Palestinians were killed on Thursday night in an Israeli attack on a house in Jabalia in the Strip. Earlier, Israeli forces hit compounds in the southern cities of Khan Younis and Rafah.
In a statement Hamas leader Hossam Badran stated Israel’s continuing operations were an obstacle to progress on a truce. Reuters reported that Hamas officials did not join Thursday’s talks in Qatar. Mediators planned to talk with Hamas’ team following the meeting, the US official said.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk expressed deep concern over the scale of casualties and destruction resulting from Israel’s ongoing brutal assault on Gaza, which began in October. The Gaza health ministry said that Israel has killed around 40,005 Palestinians including women and children.
