Negotiations in the Qatari capital, Doha, aimed at brokering a ceasefire and prisoner swap in Gaza ahead of the November elections, have concluded without any clear progress.

Two days of discussions on a Gaza ceasefire, held in Doha with U.S., Egyptian, and Qatari mediators, ended this week with no announcement of any advancement. Senior mediators have now departed Qatar, while technical delegations remain to continue discussions.

The talks, held Sunday and Monday, were viewed as a final U.S. attempt to secure a ceasefire and prisoner exchange in Gaza before the U.S. presidential election on November 5.

A source told The National, “All sides, especially Israel, are waiting to see who will be in the White House. We don’t expect any shifts until then, nor do we believe the current offers satisfy either Israel or Hamas.”

In Washington, U.S. officials confirmed that the Biden administration supports Egypt’s proposal to secure the release of five hostages in exchange for a 48-72-hour ceasefire in Gaza, with additional humanitarian aid to the region. This information was shared with the Associated Press (AP).

On Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office issued a statement clarifying that Israel had received no offer involving a 48-hour ceasefire for the release of hostages. “Had such an offer been made, the Prime Minister would have accepted it immediately,” the statement read.

Israel’s proposal for a one-month truce

The Yediot Aharonot newspaper reported that during the talks, Israel proposed a temporary one-month ceasefire in Gaza in exchange for the release of 11 to 14 prisoners held by Hamas. The proposal, reportedly presented by Mossad Director David Barnea, suggested that Israel might release some Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails. However, Israeli authorities have not confirmed these reports.

Hamas’ position on occupation

Egyptian officials indicate that Hamas remains unwilling to compromise on the core conditions it previously outlined for the release of 101 Israeli hostages, which were discussed in talks between Egypt and Hamas in Cairo last week.

Last night, Hamas announced it had responded to the ceasefire proposals. Sami Abu Zuhri, a Hamas leader, stated in a press conference that the movement had engaged with mediator requests to review new ceasefire and prisoner exchange ideas.

Abu Zuhri noted that some meetings have taken place, with further discussions anticipated, though he declined to elaborate. He emphasized Hamas’s openness to any agreement or proposal that addresses the suffering of Gaza’s people and leads to a permanent ceasefire, the complete end of the occupation, Israel’s withdrawal from the region, the lifting of the blockade, as well as the provision of aid, shelter, reconstruction, and a prisoner exchange agreement.

Beit Lahiya, a town in northern Gaza subjected to a 25-day blockade and extensive bombing by Israel, has been declared a “disaster area.” The US State Department confirmed that “two dozen children” were killed in a recent airstrike on the area. However, the Department noted it “does not yet know the underlying circumstances,” implying there may be factors yet to be assessed.

The municipality of Beit Lahiya, where the humanitarian crisis deepens daily due to the Israeli occupation, blockade, and ongoing attacks, declared the area a “disaster zone” and called for urgent aid.

A municipal statement described the situation as a humanitarian catastrophe, citing severe shortages of essential supplies including food, water, medical services, ambulances, civil defense, and communication facilities. The statement read: “For these reasons, we declare Beit Lahiya a disaster area and urgently call for help to save those at risk in a city enduring massacre and genocide.”

Yesterday, the Gaza Health Ministry reported that at least 93 Palestinians were killed, and “dozens” were injured, in an Israeli airstrike on a residential building in Beit Lahiya, north of Gaza City.

US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller addressed the attack during the daily press briefing, expressing that the US was “deeply concerned” by the incident. Miller stated, “This was a terrible incident with devastating consequences. I can’t confirm the total number of casualties, but two dozen children were killed.”

“Undoubtedly, many of these children had been fleeing the conflict for over a year,” he added. Miller also noted that the US had contacted the Israeli government for further information on the incident, saying that the full circumstances were not yet known.

Separately, Miller responded to reports that Israel had detained doctors in Gaza, describing it as a “worrying” development if confirmed. “If there is no reasonable basis for detaining doctors, and if this is hindering critical life-saving efforts, we would certainly be concerned, as we always are,” he said.

Hezbollah’s Shura Council has elected Naim Qassem as the organization’s new Secretary General, according to a recent statement.

Qassem previously served as Hezbollah’s Deputy Secretary-General under the leadership of Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in Israeli airstrikes on Beirut on September 27.

Born in Beirut in 1953, Qassem has been a senior figure within Hezbollah for over 30 years. He graduated with a degree in chemistry from Lebanese University and founded the Lebanese Muslim Students’ Union in the 1970s.

His political involvement began with the Shia Amal movement, and in 1982, he became one of Hezbollah’s founding members in response to the Israeli invasion of Lebanon.

In 1991, he was appointed Deputy Secretary-General by Hezbollah’s then-leader, Abbas al-Moussawi. After Moussawi’s death in an Israeli helicopter attack the following year, Nasrallah succeeded him, and Qassem continued as deputy.

Qassem has long been a prominent spokesman for Hezbollah, regularly addressing the international press on the ongoing conflict with Israel.

In a statement on September 30, Qassem announced that Hezbollah would elect Nasrallah’s successor “at the earliest opportunity” and reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to continue its struggle against Israel in solidarity with the Palestinian cause.