Qatar’s prime minister, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, announced on Wednesday that there has been some progress in negotiations to secure the release of hostages. This development comes after the Palestinian militant group Hamas kidnapped over 200 hostages during their violent rampage in southern Israel on October 7.
Sheikh Al-Thani expressed hope for upcoming breakthroughs in the release of hostages during a press conference with the Turkish foreign minister. Qatar, a wealthy gas-producing nation, has been engaged in dialogue with both Israel and Hamas, resulting in the release of four hostages held by Hamas, including two Israeli women.
The Gulf state, in collaboration with the US, is taking the lead in mediating talks between Hamas and Israeli authorities regarding the hostages’ release, as Israel prepares for a ground assault on the region.
In Doha, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan warned that an Israeli ground operation in Gaza could escalate the conflict into a massacre. He criticized those who support Israel’s actions, accusing them of being “accomplices to its crimes.”
During the October 7 rampage, Hamas and other militants abducted 222 people, ranging in age from 9 months to 85 years. The militants engaged in violence, including shooting motorists, targeting civilians, including children in their homes, and using burning and stabbing as methods of violence, according to accounts from survivors. In response, Israel initiated a bombing campaign and imposed a siege on Gaza.
According to the Palestinian health ministry, as of Wednesday, Israeli bombardments since October 7 have resulted in the deaths of at least 5,791 Palestinians, including 2,360 children. In the previous 24 hours alone, 704 Palestinians were killed.
Sheikh Mohammed emphasized that more children have been killed in Gaza than in Ukraine, yet the international response has not been the same. He stressed the importance of maintaining open communication channels as the only way to reach a peaceful solution in Gaza.
