Positive first day for Gaza hostage and ceasefire talks in Doha

On August 15, initial talks aimed at securing a hostage release and ceasefire in Gaza saw some progress, according to U.S. officials.

The discussions, held in Doha, involved Qatari, Egyptian, and U.S. mediators, along with Israeli negotiators, who have agreed to extend the talks for an additional day, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

The summit in Doha is considered a critical opportunity for achieving a deal, as Israeli officials have labelled it "the last chance" for a resolution. This comes amid heightened regional tensions and threats from Iran and Hezbollah, who have vowed retaliation following the recent assassinations of Hamas and Hezbollah leaders in Tehran and Beirut. The Biden administration views the hostage and ceasefire agreement as crucial for de-escalating the situation and preventing a broader regional conflict.

The proposed deal aims to secure the release of 115 hostages held by Hamas in exchange for a temporary ceasefire in Gaza, where more than 40,000 Palestinians have died, according to the local health ministry.

On the first day of talks, CIA Director Bill Burns and President Biden's top Middle East adviser Brett McGurk met in Doha with Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Mossad Director David Barnea, and Egyptian Intelligence Chief Abbas Kamel. They engaged in several hours of critical discussions.

Hamas representatives in Doha were briefed by Qatari and Egyptian mediators throughout the day. White House spokesperson John Kirby highlighted that the discussions are focused on resolving remaining disagreements between Israel and Hamas over the details of the deal, with U.S. officials optimistic about bridging these gaps.

Kirby underscored the importance of the deal for reducing regional tensions and noted that U.S. intelligence suggests Iran and Hezbollah may be planning an imminent attack on Israel.

At the end of the first day, Qatari Prime Minister Al Thani briefed Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri on the talks, emphasizing the need for de-escalation.

Two U.S. officials described the first day of discussions as "very good" and reported some progress. Another official stated that the mediators had a "constructive day" and planned to continue talks the following day.