**Qatar’s Prime Minister Warns of Slim Chances for Gaza Ceasefire**
In a meeting with the head of Israel’s spy agency, Mossad, Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani expressed concern that despite some progress in efforts to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, there is still no clear answer to how to end the conflict.
**A Glimmer of Hope?**
Speaking after his meeting with Hakan Fidan, Turkish foreign minister, Sheikh Mohammed noted that Hamas seemed more receptive towards negotiating a long-term solution to the conflict. However, Hamas’ conditions for a ceasefire remain unclear. The group has refused Israel’s latest proposal, but is now open to releasing all remaining hostages as part of an agreement to end hostilities for at least five years.
**The Israeli Blockade**
Israel imposed a total blockade on Gaza in March, followed by air and land attacks that have resulted in the deaths of 2,151 Palestinians since then. The fighting has intensified, with both sides suffering losses. An Israeli soldier and policeman were killed on Friday, according to the Israeli military.
**A Divergent View**
Sheikh Mohammed emphasized that while there had been some progress compared to previous meetings, the views of Israel and Hamas on a ceasefire remain divergent. He noted that Israel wants to free the hostages without offering any vision for a resolution to the conflict, while Hamas is willing to release all remaining hostages as part of an agreement to end hostilities.
**The Humanitarian Crisis**
The war has resulted in a devastating humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with the UN World Food Programme warning last week that its food supplies had run out due to the Israeli blockade. Sheikh Mohammed condemned Israel’s “starvation policy” and called for a solution to the conflict.
**A Palestinian Leader Speaks Out**
In a fiery address during a meeting with the Palestinian Central Council on Wednesday in Ramallah, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas slammed Hamas as “sons of dogs”, demanding that they release the hostages and disarm, and hand over control of Gaza. The rift between Hamas and Abbas’ Fatah party has prevented a unified Palestinian leadership from emerging.
**The Death Toll**
The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry announced on Sunday that the death toll in the war was at least 52,243 people after accounting for hundreds of missing individuals whose deaths were now confirmed. The ministry denied earlier allegations that it had manipulated the death toll numbers.
**What’s Next?**
As the conflict continues to escalate, the chances of ending it seem slim. Sheikh Mohammed warned that without a common goal or objective between Israel and Hamas, there is little hope for a breakthrough. The international community remains divided on how to resolve the crisis, with some promoting the idea of a reformed Palestinian Authority governing Gaza.
**A Humanitarian Disaster**
The war has resulted in a devastating humanitarian disaster in Gaza, with most of the territory now in ruins. The conflict began in October 2023, when Hamas launched a cross-border assault that killed around 1,200 people and took 251 hostages. The international community must come together to find a solution to this crisis before it’s too late.
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