Qatar Reports Gaza Ceasefire Progress, Challenges Persist

Qatar, a key mediator in Gaza ceasefire negotiations, said on Sunday that talks in Doha this week had yielded "some progress" toward securing a truce in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. However, major disagreements between the two sides remain unresolved.

Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, who also serves as foreign minister, acknowledged incremental advances during a press conference but stressed that a final agreement hinges on resolving the core issue: ending the war.

"We saw a bit of progress on Thursday compared to previous meetings, but the ultimate question—how to end this war—remains unanswered. That is the key point of the entire negotiations," Sheikh Mohammed said.

The discussions followed a meeting in Doha between Israel’s Mossad chief, David Barnea, and the Qatari prime minister, as reported by Axios last week. While Sheikh Mohammed did not specify which elements of the talks had advanced, he noted that Hamas and Israel remain divided over the fundamental objective of the negotiations.

Sticking Points: Hostages and War’s End

Hamas has reportedly offered to release all remaining Israeli hostages if Israel agrees to end the war. However, Israel has demanded the hostages' release without committing to a permanent ceasefire or a clear exit strategy from the conflict.

"When you don't have a common objective between the parties, the opportunities to end the war become very thin," Sheikh Mohammed said during a joint press conference with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.

Fidan added that Turkish officials had engaged with Hamas and found the group open to a broader agreement—one that extends beyond a temporary truce and seeks a lasting resolution, including a two-state solution.

Rising Toll as Conflict Continues

The latest round of negotiations comes amid escalating violence. Gaza’s health ministry reported on Sunday that the Palestinian death toll had risen to 52,243 since the war began 18 months ago. Over the past 24 hours, hospitals received the remains of 51 Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes, while nearly 700 previously undocumented fatalities were added to the official count.

Israel resumed its offensive on March 18 after a brief January ceasefire collapsed, vowing to maintain military pressure until Hamas releases the remaining hostages. Up to 24 of the original 251 captives taken during Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack—which killed 1,200 people, according to Israeli tallies—are believed to still be alive.

Despite the reported progress in talks, a durable ceasefire remains uncertain as both sides hold firm on their core demands.