(VOVWORLD) -Media in the Middle East reported that a new round of negotiations aimed at achieving a long-term ceasefire in the Gaza Strip began on Monday in Doha, Qatar.
 Buildings were destroyed after an Israeli air strike on the city of Rafah, Gaza, March 9, 2024. (Photo: Xinhua/VNA) |
The Israeli delegation, led by Mossad intelligence director David Barnea, initiated the negotiations with a dinner with Qatar officials.
The Israeli negotiating team is sharing a hotel with the representatives of Hamas, but no direct meetings or contacts between the two sides will take place. All discussions will be conducted through a third party.
The negotiations are scheduled for two weeks with the objective of securing a 40-day ceasefire in Gaza, coupled with an exchange of hostages and prisoners.
Meanwhile, a food security assessment report, published on Monday, revealed that 50% of the population in the Gaza Strip is experiencing "catastrophic" hunger. It is projected that, without urgent intervention, the condition will expand to the northern part of Gaza by May.
US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said Monday that a large-scale ground attack by the Israeli army on the city of Rafah would be a mistake, potentially resulting in numerous innocent civilian casualties and exacerbating the humanitarian crisis and chaos in Gaza.