Gaza ceasefire talks resume for second day in Qatar | BBC News

Summary

Middle East ceasefire talks are set to resume in Doha following a constructive first day, with Israeli representatives present but Hamas absent, citing changing terms. Over 40,000 Palestinians have reportedly been killed in Gaza, a figure Israel disputes. Israeli hostages' families demand a deal for their release, marching in Tel Aviv. West Bank violence escalates with Jewish settlers attacking a Palestinian village, prompting international condemnation. Experts express cautious optimism for a ceasefire agreement, while the potential for retaliation from Iran and Hezbollah hangs in the balance, contingent on negotiation outcomes.

Takeaways

• 📅 Ceasefire talks in Gaza are set to resume in Kat after a 'constructive' first day, with Israeli representatives present but Hamas absent, citing changed terms by Israel.
• 🛑 Hamas officials demand a comprehensive ceasefire, complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and the return of the Palestinian flag as conditions for any agreement.
• 🚨 The Hamas-run Health Ministry reports over 40,000 Palestinians killed in Gaza, a figure disputed by Israel.
• 👥 Families of Israeli hostages in Gaza demand a deal for their release, with thousands marching in Tel Aviv.
• 🗣️ A White House spokesman indicates a promising start to the talks, and Israeli media expresses guarded optimism about the negotiations.
• 🏠 Israeli political leaders, including Netanyahu, condemn violent actions by Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank, resulting in Palestinian casualties.
• 🔥 There has been an increase in attacks on Palestinian civilians by extremist settlers, with over 1,250 attacks reported by the UN since the start of the war in Gaza.
• 🏛️ The UN has documented forced displacements of Palestinians due to settler harassment, with unauthorized outposts being set up by settlers.
• 🌍 The White House and international community have condemned the violence against Palestinian civilians, highlighting a lack of Israeli prosecution in these cases.
• 🤝 Middle East expert Nomi Bakov expresses cautious optimism about the talks, suggesting a critical and pivotal moment with clear lines drawn for negotiation.
• ⚔️ Bakov notes that while Hamas is not directly attending the talks, their presence in Doha allows them to be part of the negotiation process indirectly.

Q & A

What is the current status of the ceasefire talks in Kat?

The ceasefire talks in Kat are set to resume after a constructive first day of discussions. Israeli representatives are attending, but Hamas, which runs Gaza, has stayed away, accusing Israel of changing its terms since previous rounds of talks.

What are the conditions Hamas has set for any agreement to be accepted?

Hamas has reiterated that any agreement must achieve a comprehensive ceasefire, a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and the return of the Palestinian refugees.

What is the reported number of Palestinians killed in Gaza according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry?

The Hamas-run Health Ministry reported that the number of Palestinians killed in Gaza has passed 40,000, although Israel disputes this figure.

What was the reason for the families of Israeli hostages in Gaza to gather and march in Tel Aviv?

The families of Israeli hostages gathered to demand a deal to secure their release, following Hamas's attacks on October 7th.

What is the current sentiment regarding the talks from the Israeli media and the White House?

The Israeli media has expressed guarded optimism, considering it a positive sign that the Israeli delegation decided to stay overnight in Doha despite security risks. A White House spokesman also indicated that the talks had a promising start.

What incident occurred in the West Bank involving Jewish settlers and Palestinian civilians?

A large group of Jewish settlers went on a rampage in a village in the occupied West Bank, setting houses and cars on fire, resulting in at least one Palestinian killed and another seriously injured.

How has the international community responded to the violence in the West Bank?

The White House quickly condemned the violence against Palestinian civilians, stating it was unacceptable and must stop. The UN has also been monitoring attacks on Palestinian civilians by extremist settlers, documenting over 1,250 attacks since the start of the war in Gaza.

What is the current situation regarding Israeli settlements in Palestinian communities?

There have been incidents of settler harassment forcing Palestinian communities away from their homes, with settlers moving in and setting up unauthorized temporary outposts, which are seen as seeds of settlements.

What is Nomi Barkov's view on the progress of the talks in Doha?

Nomi Barkov, a Middle East expert, is cautiously optimistic about the talks, believing they are at a critical and pivotal moment with clear lines drawn, and hopes for an agreement on a framework.

How does Barkov assess the impact of Hamas not directly attending the talks in Doha?

Barkov does not believe it makes a significant difference as the Hamas leadership is based in Doha and is essentially part of the negotiation, receiving regular updates and feedback from the mediators.

What are the potential implications of the current negotiations for Iran and Hezbollah's plans for retaliation?

Barkov suggests that everything hinges on the outcome of the negotiations. If a framework agreement is reached, immediate retaliation from Iran and Hezbollah is less likely. However, if no agreement is reached, a serious and coordinated retaliation is expected.

Outlines

00:00

🕊️ Gaza Ceasefire Talks and Regional Tensions

The script discusses the resumption of ceasefire talks in Kat, where Israeli representatives are present, but Hamas, the governing authority in Gaza, has abstained, citing Israel's alleged change of terms. Hamas insists on a comprehensive ceasefire, complete Israeli withdrawal, and the return of Palestinian prisoners. The death toll in Gaza has reportedly exceeded 40,000, a figure disputed by Israel. Israeli hostages' families demand a deal for their release, with protests taking place in Tel Aviv. The script also covers violent incidents in the West Bank involving Jewish settlers, which have been condemned by Israeli leaders and the White House. The UN has reported numerous attacks on Palestinians by settlers since the start of the Gaza conflict, with international law deeming all settlements illegal. The talks are described as serious and at a critical stage, with cautious optimism for a framework agreement, despite Hamas's indirect participation.

05:01

🔍 Prospects of Ceasefire and Retaliation Concerns

This paragraph delves into the indirect participation of Hamas in the Doha talks and the potential implications of their absence from direct negotiations. Despite not being in the same room, Hamas is updated by mediators, indicating their de facto involvement. The discussion also addresses the possibility of retaliation from Iran and Hezbollah following the killings of key figures, which could be influenced by the outcome of the ceasefire talks. If a framework agreement is reached, immediate retaliation is less likely, but failure to reach an agreement could prompt a serious, coordinated response from Iran's proxies in the region and Hezbollah. The interviewee, Nomi Bakov, expresses cautious optimism about the talks and the potential for a ceasefire agreement, emphasizing the critical nature of the current negotiations.

Keywords

💡Ceasefire talks

Ceasefire talks refer to negotiations aimed at ending a state of conflict or fighting between parties. In the script, these talks are taking place in Kat and involve discussions between Israeli representatives and Hamas, which is a significant theme of the video as it directly relates to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

💡Hamas

Hamas is a Palestinian political organization with a military wing that controls the Gaza Strip. The script mentions Hamas as a key player in the conflict and the peace process, highlighting their absence from the talks and their conditions for any agreement, which is central to understanding the dynamics of the conflict.

💡Israeli withdrawal

An Israeli withdrawal refers to the removal of Israeli military forces from a particular area, in this case, Gaza. The script notes that a complete withdrawal is one of Hamas's conditions for a ceasefire agreement, illustrating a critical point of contention in the peace process.

💡Palestinian casualties

The term 'Palestinian casualties' denotes the number of Palestinians killed in the conflict. The script reports the figure of over 40,000 Palestinians killed in Gaza, a statistic that underscores the severity of the conflict and its human cost.

💡Israeli hostages

Israeli hostages are individuals held captive by Hamas following their attacks. The script describes a demonstration by their families demanding a deal for their release, which highlights the personal stakes involved in the conflict and the broader implications for peace negotiations.

💡Settlers

Settlers in the script refer to Jewish individuals who have moved to live in territories outside of Israel's internationally recognized borders, specifically the occupied West Bank. Their violent actions, as described in the script, are a significant issue contributing to the ongoing tension and conflict in the region.

💡Violence in the West Bank

The script mentions violence in the West Bank, which is less reported but equally significant as the events in Gaza. This violence, often perpetrated by settlers, is a key aspect of the ongoing conflict and a barrier to peace in the region.

💡International law

International law, as referenced in the script, pertains to the legal framework that governs relations between nations and sets standards for behavior in conflict situations. The script notes that all settlements are considered illegal under international law, emphasizing the broader legal context of the conflict.

💡White House

The White House, as mentioned in the script, represents the executive office of the President of the United States and its stance on international matters. The script describes the White House's condemnation of violence against Palestinian civilians, indicating the U.S.'s position and influence in the conflict.

💡Diplomatic efforts

Diplomatic efforts refer to actions taken by governments or international bodies to resolve conflicts through negotiation and dialogue. The script highlights such efforts to prevent retaliation and facilitate a ceasefire, illustrating the international community's role in the peace process.

💡Hezbollah

Hezbollah is a Lebanese political party and militant group that has been involved in the broader Middle Eastern conflicts. The script mentions potential retaliation from Hezbollah, which is tied to the outcome of the negotiations and adds another layer of complexity to the situation.

Highlights

Ceasefire talks in Gaza are set to resume after a constructive first day.

Israeli representatives are attending, but Hamas is absent, accusing Israel of changing terms.

Hamas demands a comprehensive ceasefire, Israeli withdrawal, and the return of the placed.

The Hamas-run Health Ministry reports over 40,000 Palestinians killed in Gaza.

Families of Israeli hostages demand a deal for their release, marching in Tel Aviv.

White House spokesman comments on the promising start of the talks.

Israeli media expresses guarded optimism about the ongoing negotiations.

Hamas leaders are present in Doha, and mediators are facilitating indirect communication.

Violence in the West Bank is less reported but frequent, with extremist settlers attacking Palestinians.

UN reports over 1,250 attacks by settlers on Palestinians since the start of the Gaza war.

The White House condemns the violence against Palestinian civilians as unacceptable.

International and Israeli NGOs complain about the lack of Israeli prosecutions for settler violence.

Nomi Barkov, a Middle East expert, is cautiously optimistic about the talks' progress.

Barkov believes the talks are at a critical and decisive stage.

Hamas' indirect presence in Doha is considered sufficient for negotiations.

The outcome of the negotiations will influence potential retaliation from Iran and Hezbollah.

Diplomatic efforts are being made to prevent retaliation and allow for a ceasefire agreement.

Transcripts

hello I'm Lauren Taylor we start in the

Middle East Gaza ceasefire talks are due

to resume in Kat after what a Us

official has described as a constructive

first day of discussions on Thursday

Israeli representatives are attending

but Hamas which runs Gaza has stayed

away accusing Israel of changing its

terms since previous rounds of talks a

Hamas official also reiterated that any

agreement must achieve a comprehensive

ceasefire a complete Israeli withdrawal

from Gaza and the return of the placed

on Thursday the Hamas run Health

Ministry reported that the number of

Palestinians killed in Gaza has passed

40,000 although Israel disputes the

figure later the families of Israeli

hostages still held captive in Gaza

following hamas's October the 7th

attacks gathered to demand a deal to

secure their release with several

thousand marching in Tel Aviv a little

earlier our Middle East correspondent

Yulan Nell gave me a sense of how the

seire talks have gone so

far well we had a White House spokesman

say

late yesterday that they had got off to

a promising start the Israeli media this

morning has been talking about guarded

optimism saying it's a positive sign

that the Israeli delegation that was

sent the negotiating team uh decided to

stay overnight despite what they see um

as some security risk in Doha and that

they are continuing these talks with us

cat and Egyptian mediators uh today now

Hamas as we were saying has not sent a

delegation along to the these indirect

talks um but of course Hamas leaders are

present in Doha and what mediators have

been saying is they have ways um to get

messages back to Hamas um so this is not

seen as as being um the obstacle that it

may appear to be and you land in the

meantime development on the West Bank

Israeli political leaders including

Benjamin Netanyahu and two far-right

ministers have condemned a large group

of Jewish settlers who went on the

Rampage in a village in the occupied

West Bank setting houses and cars on

fire settlers some of them wearing masks

were armed with batons rocks and molto

Cocktails as they descended on the

village of jit at least one Palestinian

was killed another seriously injured and

it's a reminder that youan that there's

violence quite often in the West Bank

that is less well reported than events

in

Gaza that's right although we've had

these strong comments coming from

Israeli leaders the president calling it

a pogram for example um this is by far

you know far from an isolated incident

um we have the UN AA agency which has

been monitoring attacks on Palestinian

civilians by extremist settlers saying

that since the start of the war in Gaza

they have um found something like

1,250 attacks by settlers um on

Palestinians and there have been on top

of that you know something like um 17 18

Palestinian communities where people

have been forced by by settler

harassment away from their homes um

those communities in some places um

having uh settlers move in setting up a

temporary outposts there those are uh

sort of seeds of settlements um that are

not even authorized by the Israeli

authorities all settlements seen as

being illegal under international law we

had the White House also coming out

quickly to condemn uh what is happen

saying that such violence against

Palestinian civilians was unacceptable

and must stop there have been lots of

complaints from the International

Community from Israeli NOS as well there

is a sense of impunity when it comes to

a lot of these attacks uh you do not see

prosecutions by the Israeli

authorities let's speak now to Nomi

bakov a Middle East expert and Associate

fellow of International Security program

at chattam house who's in our

Westminster Studio thanks very much

indeed for being with us I just wonder

what your impression is of the the talks

that have restarted in Doha and the

progress so far and How likely it is

that there'll be some kind of a a

concrete outcome this time round thank

you very much Lauren for having me um on

the show this morning I think that the

talks are very serious I think we're at

a critical stage we're at a make or

break stage and I think that is known

not only to the three mediators Qatar

Egypt and um the us but also to Israel

and Hamas and therefore um we are at a

um pivotal moment a Breaking Point and

I'm cautiously optimistic I think talks

are going well and the lines have been

drawn dra they're very very clear and

hopefully there will be an outcome of a

an agreement on a framework uh it's not

unlikely that all the details will be

ironed out today but it is very much my

hope and the hope of the mediators and

the parties that a framework will be

agreed and thereby the implementation

will be what is going to um need further

discussions Beyond today now Hass are

not attending directly but they are

based Doha some of the some of their

political uh fellows are based in in

Doha so they presumably will get some of

the feedback from the talks do you think

it makes any difference that they're not

uh directly attending no I don't

actually I think that given that the

Hamas leadership is based in Doha they

are essentially a part of the uh

negotiation but in in any event the

Israelis and the Hamas Niks are not

sitting in the same room with the

negotiators so they are being um updated

regularly by the mediators and feedback

is coming in so I think yes they announc

that they're not sending anyone but

they're actually there what do you

expect in terms of any kind of

retaliation from Iran or hisbah for the

uh killings of the of isma Hanah and

also the hisbah commander recently there

was some talk that perhaps if a

ceasefire in Gaza were achieved that

might be be taken off the table do you

think that they will still go ahead

anyway with some kind of form of

retaliation well I think everything

hinges on the outcome of these current

negot negotiations so um hisbah have

vowed to um retaliate for the

assassination of H shuker for which

Israel took responsibility and um Iran

have vowed to retaliate for the

assassination of isma Hanah the

political leader of Hamas on their soil

you know into Iran two weeks just over

two weeks ago that said um there have

been tremendous diplomatic efforts both

behind the scenes and openly to ensure

that no retaliation takes place um at

and that a chance is before a cease a

chance for a ceasefire agreement is

being given and the Chance is now so I

think everyone everything hinges on the

outcome of this particular negotiation

if an agreement a framework agreement

will be reached I don't think we will

see an Iranian and Hezbollah immediate

retaliation if an agreement is not

reached on the other hand then I think

we're all doomed and I think we're going

to see a very serious coordinated uh

retaliation with between uh um Iran

Iran's many long arms proxies in the

region and hisbah noi Yakov thank you

very much indeed for joining us thank

you thank you Lauren