Hamas reports direct talks with US in Doha

Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas announced Sunday that it has held direct negotiations with the US in recent days in Doha, reporting "progress" towards a truce in Gaza.

This announcement comes as indirect negotiations between Hamas and Israel for an agreement to end the war in the and release Israeli hostages held in the Palestinian territory have stalled. It was made ahead of a Middle East visit by U.S. President Donald Trump, who is scheduled to visit Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates from May 13 to 16.

The war in Gaza was triggered by an unprecedented attack carried out by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023, against southern Israel, bordering Gaza where the Palestinian movement took power in 2007. "Direct talks have taken place in Doha between the Hamas leadership and the United States regarding a ceasefire, a prisoner exchange (Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners), and the entry of humanitarian aid to Gaza," a Hamas official said under the condition of anonymity. The "talks are ongoing," according to him.

A second Hamas official stated that 'progress has been made ... on the entry of aid to Gaza, on a prisoner exchange, particularly regarding (Israeli-American hostage) Edan Alexander, and on the cease-fire.' In early March, the United States confirmed unprecedented direct contacts with Hamas, after consulting with Israel. American media outlet Axios had reported that the U.S. special envoy for hostages, Adam Boehler, held direct meetings in Doha.

12 Palestinians killed in Gaza

After a two-month truce, Israel resumed its offensive in Gaza on March 18 with the declared objective of ending Hamas and forcing them to release the hostages kidnapped during the October 7 attack. Since March 2, its army has banned the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza, where it is besieging the approximately 2.4 million inhabitants facing a catastrophic humanitarian situation.

A cease-fire between January 19 and March 17 allowed 33 Israeli hostages - including 8 dead - to be taken out of Gaza in exchange for the release of about 1,800 Palestinian prisoners. Hamas is demanding a 'comprehensive agreement' to end the war. Israel, which has announced a plan to 'conquer' Gaza, demands the return of all hostages and the demilitarization of the territory.

On Sunday, the Civil Defense in Gaza reported 12 deaths, including children, in Israeli airstrikes, mostly in Khan Younes (south). Fighter jets notably targeted three tents sheltering dozens of displaced people.

Footage shot by AFP shows rescuers, in darkness, evacuating bodies by ambulance, one in a white plastic bag and another in a blanket, as well as an injured baby. The Israeli army did not comment on the strikes but stated that its air forces had struck "more than 50 terrorist targets in Gaza" since Saturday.

'Unilateral measures'

Hamas attack on Oct.7, 2023, resulted in the death of 1,218 people on the Israeli side, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official data. Of the 251 people abducted in Israel that day, 58 are still held in Gaza, including 34 declared dead by the Israeli army. Israeli reprisals have resulted in at least 52,829 deaths in Gaza, mostly civilians, according to data released Sunday by the Hamas Health Ministry, considered reliable by the U.N.

Regarding humanitarian aid to Gaza, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar stated that his country fully supports the American initiative for a forthcoming distribution of aid, which does not foresee direct Israeli participation. He once again accused Hamas of "stealing" the aid. For weeks, U.N. and NGO officials have been warning about the shortage of food, medicine, and fuel in Gaza.

Meanwhile, Saar warned that unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state would lead Israel to take "unilateral measures" Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is opposed to the establishment of a Palestinian state, a solution supported by many members of the international community for a resolution to the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict.