Qatar, Egypt ‘working intensively’ to resolve Gaza truce ‘crisis,’ Palestinian source says

Mediators Qatar and Egypt were “working intensively” to resolve the crisis surrounding the Gaza ceasefire deal, a Palestinian source tells AFP, after Hamas said it would not release hostages as scheduled on Saturday and Israel threatened in response to resume fighting.

“Mediators from Qatar and Egypt are in contact with the American side,” says the source on condition of anonymity, as he is not authorized to speak publicly on the Gaza ceasefire.

“They are working intensively to resolve the crisis and compel Israel to implement the humanitarian protocol in the ceasefire agreement and begin negotiations for the second phase,” the source adds.

The ongoing ceasefire deal has come under immense strain in recent days. On Tuesday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that fighting might resume if hostages are not released by Saturday. Hamas threatened not to free the hostages as it alleged Israel was not allowing in all the aid that was promised, a claim Jerusalem rejects.