Tehran: Qatar’s Prime Minister, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, has reportedly urged Iranian leaders to avoid any actions that could disrupt ongoing hostage-truce negotiations between Israel and Hamas.
According to a senior source from one of the mediating countries—Qatar, Egypt, and the United States—al-Thani advised Iran to consider whether it is advisable for them or Hezbollah to attack Israel given the progress made in discussions.
This call appears to have influenced Hezbollah, which has reportedly delayed any major attacks on Israel. The negotiations in Doha, which resumed on Friday, are seen as a critical step toward averting a larger regional conflict.
While Hamas did not attend the initial talks, they have called for the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza as a condition for any deal. The Qatari Foreign Ministry expressed its commitment to reaching a ceasefire that would allow the release of hostages and increase humanitarian aid to Gaza.
White House National Security spokesperson John Kirby described Thursday’s meetings as a “promising start” but acknowledged the complexity of the agreement. Talks are expected to continue as both sides work to overcome remaining obstacles.
British Foreign Secretary David Lamy and French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne are expected to visit Israel this weekend to stress the urgency of reaching a ceasefire deal. Meanwhile, Hamas has indicated they will engage in talks if Israel makes a serious proposal in line with their previous demands.
The ongoing negotiations aim to finalize a three-phase plan, which includes a ceasefire, the release of over 100 hostages held by Hamas, and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. However, disagreements over the terms have led to delays, with both sides accusing the other of making unacceptable new demands.
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