ISTANBUL

Qatar and Egypt reaffirmed their continued commitment to intensive mediation efforts aimed at reaching a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip, the Qatari Foreign Ministry said Friday.

In a joint statement, the two countries emphasized “the continuation of their intensive efforts in the Gaza mediation file, with the aim of reaching an agreement that brings an end to the war, alleviates the humanitarian suffering in the Strip, ensures the protection of civilians, and secures the exchange of hostages and detainees.”

The statement said “some progress” had been made during the latest round of intensive negotiations, which spanned three weeks.

Both countries stressed that the current pause in talks for consultations is “a natural part of the negotiation process, given the complexity of the issues involved.”

Doha and Cairo also urged all parties and the media not to be swayed by “leaks” circulated in certain media outlets.

“These leaks do not reflect the reality of the negotiations and come from sources not informed about the actual progress of the talks,” the statement read.

The two mediators called on international media organizations to act responsibly and uphold journalistic ethics, by focusing attention on the unprecedented humanitarian suffering in Gaza, rather than undermining the diplomatic efforts to end the war.

Qatar and Egypt reiterated that in partnership with the US, their joint commitment to continuing their work until a comprehensive agreement is reached to secure a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

Negotiations for a ceasefire were underway in Doha but the US and Israel recalled their teams for consultations on Thursday, after a response from Hamas to the latest truce proposal.

“We have decided to bring our team home from Doha for consultations after the latest response from Hamas, which clearly shows a lack of desire to reach a ceasefire in Gaza,” said US envoy Steve Witkoff. “We will now consider alternative options to bring the hostages home and try to create a more stable environment for the people of Gaza.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also said that “Hamas is the obstacle to a hostage release deal.”

The Palestinian group has rejected the accusations.

Tel Aviv estimates that of the around 250 Israeli hostages taken by Hamas, 50 still remain in Gaza, with 20 believed to be alive.

Meanwhile, more than 10,000 Palestinians are detained in Israeli prisons, enduring torture, starvation, and medical neglect that has led to the death of many, according to Palestinian and Israeli reports.

Israel has killed more than 59,700 Palestinians, most of them women and children, in the Gaza Strip since October 2023. The military campaign has devastated the enclave, collapsed the health system, and led to mass hunger and starvation.