November 9th 2024.
Wafaa Shurafa, Samy Magdy and Matthew Lee, reporters for the Associated Press, share the latest developments in the ongoing conflict between Hamas and Israel. The mediation efforts led by Qatar have been suspended, as the lack of progress on a cease-fire deal for Gaza has caused frustration. It is unclear if the remaining Hamas leaders in Qatar will have to leave and where they would go. While Qatar has good relations with Iran and Turkey, some leaders are currently in Lebanon.
However, there is a possibility that Qatar will resume mediation if both sides show a genuine willingness to reach a deal. An official from Egypt, another key mediator, has stated this condition. Qatar has informed both Israel and Hamas that they can no longer mediate as long as there is a refusal to negotiate in good faith. This has led to the Hamas political office in Qatar no longer serving its purpose, according to a diplomatic source.
The United States has also expressed its stance on the matter. They have informed Qatar that the Hamas office in Doha is no longer useful and the delegation should be expelled. The US officials have stated that Qatar accepted this advice and informed the Hamas delegation of the decision 10 days ago.
A senior Hamas official has acknowledged that they are aware of Qatar's decision to suspend mediation efforts, but no one has explicitly told them to leave. Hamas has repeatedly called for an end to the war and a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. On the other hand, Israel is seeking the return of all hostages taken in a previous attack and insists on a presence in Gaza.
As the war continues, there seems to be no end in sight for both the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza and the Israel-Hezbollah conflict in Lebanon. Israel's military has targeted command centers and other militant infrastructure in Beirut's southern suburbs and other areas. However, this has resulted in the death of innocent civilians, including women and children.
In Gaza, Israeli strikes have killed at least 16 people on Saturday alone, according to Palestinian medical officials. In response, Israel has announced the first delivery of humanitarian aid in weeks to the territory's north. However, not all of the aid has reached its intended destination, as Israeli troops stopped a convoy in the urban refugee camp of Jabaliya.
The conflict has left thousands of Palestinians displaced and has taken a toll on their well-being. The United Nations has warned that there is a possibility of famine in parts of northern Gaza. The UN estimates that tens of thousands of people remain in this isolated area, but there are no emergency services functioning there.
The war has been ongoing for more than a year and has resulted in the death of over 43,000 people, according to Palestinian health officials. The hostages taken in the initial attack are still being held captive, with some believed to be dead. This has caused frustration and sadness among the people, with some attending protests to demand a cease-fire deal.
Magdy has reported from Cairo and Lee from Washington, with additional contributions from AP writer Jack Jeffery in Ramallah, West Bank. You can follow the AP's coverage of the war at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war.
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