Egyptian Delegation in Doha to Revive Gaza Ceasefire Amid Renewed Israeli Attacks

Watan-A high-level Egyptian security delegation arrived in Doha, Qatar, on Thursday as part of ongoing efforts to broker a comprehensive truce in the besieged Gaza Strip, according to official Egyptian media.

The delegation is holding discussions with Qatari officials and those involved in the Palestinian file, focusing on mechanisms for the release of prisoners on both the Palestinian and Israeli sides. These talks are part of a transitional phase aimed at de-escalating tensions and preparing the ground for the second stage of a permanent ceasefire agreement between Israel and Palestinian factions, chiefly Hamas.

According to sources, the negotiations are also centered on ensuring the urgent entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza, where conditions have become catastrophic since the war began. The goal is to create a conducive environment for maintaining the ceasefire and paving the way for broader understandings that include a permanent end to hostilities.

This step comes amid intensified regional and international efforts to prevent the collapse of ongoing negotiations, as contradictory signals continue to emerge regarding the positions of various parties on the conditions for the second phase of the deal. Cairo, alongside Doha and Washington, plays a leading mediating role in these efforts, aiming to reach a resolution that would end the ongoing war and open the door to a broader humanitarian and political settlement.

Israel Resumes War, Violating Ceasefire Agreement

On March 18, Israel resumed its genocidal war on the besieged Gaza Strip, in a clear breach and abandonment of the ceasefire agreement brokered in January by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States.

Since restarting the war, Israel has killed over 800 Palestinians in a series of horrific massacres targeting displaced persons’ camps and gatherings of civilians who had no shelter after the first phase of the ceasefire and were forced to live in the open.

Alongside the indiscriminate killing of civilians, including entire families, Israeli airstrikes have targeted Hamas civil society leaders in an attempt to achieve goals that the occupation army has failed to accomplish throughout its ongoing genocidal campaign since October 7, 2023, which has resulted in the deaths of more than 50,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children.

Hamas Spokesman Killed in Israeli Strike

On Thursday, Hamas mourned its spokesperson, Abdel Latif al-Qanou, who was martyred in a direct Israeli strike on his displacement tent in Jabalia, northern Gaza Strip. The movement said he had remained steadfast in Gaza since the beginning of the aggression until his death.

In a statement, Hamas affirmed:“The occupation’s targeting of the movement’s leaders and spokespersons will not break our will but will only strengthen our determination to continue on the path until the liberation of our land and holy sites. The blood of the martyrs will remain the fuel and inspiration for the resistance until victory.”