Qatar talks on Gaza truce inconclusive

The first session of indirect Hamas-Israel ceasefire talks in Qatar ended inconclusively, two Palestinian sources familiar with the matter said early on Monday, adding that the Israeli delegation didn’t have a sufficient mandate to reach an agreement with Hamas.

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The talks resumed on Sunday, ahead of Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu’s third visit to the White House since Trump returned to power.

“After the first session of indirect negotiations in Doha, the Israeli delegation is not sufficiently authorised ... to reach an agreement with Hamas, as it has no real powers,” the sources said.

Netanyahu said Israeli negotiators taking part in the ceasefire talks have clear instructions to achieve a ceasefire agreement under conditions that Israel has accepted.

Israel’s refusal to allow the free and safe entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza remains the main obstacle to progress in the ceasefire talks being held in Qatar, Palestinian sources said.