Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
GAZA, May 17 (Xinhua) — Mediated talks between Hamas and Israel resumed in Qatar’s capital Doha on Saturday, senior Palestinian official Mahmoud Mardawi said.
As M. Mardavi noted, the negotiations are being conducted with the mediation of Qatar and the United States in an attempt to achieve a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and conclude an agreement on the exchange of hostages without preconditions.
A source close to Hamas told Xinhua on condition of anonymity that the talks are based on a proposal presented by US Special Envoy for the Middle East Steven Witkoff, to which Hamas has made significant changes.
The guarantees provided by the United States in the current round of Gaza ceasefire talks appear to be “more serious” and include clear commitments to implement the terms of any potential agreement, the source said.
Meanwhile, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz on Saturday confirmed the resumption of talks with Hamas, saying the Palestinian movement’s return to the negotiating table marks a departure from the intransigent stance it has taken so far.
According to I. Katz, Hamas changed its position after the launch of a new Israeli military operation, codenamed “Gideon’s Chariots,” which aims to expand the scale of hostilities in Gaza and achieve key military goals of the Jewish state, including the release of hostages and the elimination of Hamas.
The Israeli military on Friday evening announced an escalation of operations in the Palestinian enclave, launching a series of airstrikes and deploying additional ground forces, saying the stepped-up offensive marks the start of Operation Gideon’s Chariots.
The current proposal being discussed in Doha would see the release of some 10 or more hostages in exchange for a limited ceasefire, Israeli state radio Kan reported. Israel estimates the number of hostages still alive in Gaza at 20.
Despite renewed efforts to achieve peace, Hamas has expressed doubts about continuing negotiations while Israel’s blockade of Gaza, imposed since March 2, remains in place. –0–