Gaza ceasefire talks paused with resumption planned next week

Gaza ceasefire talks in Doha paused on Friday with negotiators to meet again next week seeking an agreement to end fighting between Israel and Hamas and free remaining hostages, as United States (US) President Joe Biden said “we’re not there yet”.

In a joint statement, the US, Qatar and Egypt said Washington had presented a new proposal that built on points of agreement over the past week, closing gaps in a way that could allow rapid implementation of a deal.

Mediators would keep working on the proposal, they said.

“The path is now set for that outcome, saving lives, bringing relief to the people of Gaza, and de-escalating regional tensions,” they said in the statement.

On Thursday, Israel and mediators began the latest round in months of talks to end the war in Gaza, which has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians.

Palestinian militant group Hamas was not directly involved but was kept briefed on the talks.

A senior Hamas official, Izzat al-Rishq, told Reuters Israel “did not abide by what was agreed upon” in earlier talks, citing what mediators had told them.

Biden says deal ‘much, much closer’

In Washington, Biden said a deal was “much, much closer” than before the talks began.

A senior administration official said the latest negotiations were the most productive in months, and negotiators will reconvene next week in Cairo hoping to conclude it.