Palestinian sources close to the Hamas movement announced that negotiations are underway in Doha tonight between representatives of the movement and mediators from Egypt and Qatar on reviving the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip and the exchange of hostages and prisoners.
"A meeting between the Egyptian delegation responsible for the Doha negotiations and the Hamas delegation began tonight with the aim of reaching a ceasefire," unnamed Palestinian sources said.
Qatari mediators are also involved in the talks.
The talks are focused on the possibility of establishing a ceasefire during Eid al-Fitr, the Muslim holiday marking the end of Ramadan and likely to begin on Sunday, and the Jewish holiday of Passover (April 12-19).
Palestinian sources said the talks also concern the entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip.
"The mediators are holding intensive talks with all parties to conclude a ceasefire and move towards the second phase of the agreement," the same sources added, noting that Hamas expressed its readiness to respond "positively" to any proposal that would end the fighting.
Indirect negotiations between Hamas and Israel, led by Egypt, Qatar and the US, to extend the ceasefire that came into effect on January 19, have been stalled since the first phase of the ceasefire expired on March 1. The ceasefire was broken on March 18 by renewed Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip.
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