Egypt and Qatar have reaffirmed their commitment to ongoing mediation efforts aimed at securing a ceasefire and ending the war in Gaza. In a joint statement released yesterday, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry confirmed that both countries are engaged in intensive negotiations to facilitate an agreement between Israel and Hamas. The goal is to end the ongoing conflict, alleviate humanitarian suffering in the Gaza Strip, protect civilians, and ensure the exchange of detainees and prisoners.

According to the statement, the latest round of negotiations, which began on July 6, has seen some progress. While discussions have temporarily paused for consultations, both mediators emphasized that such breaks are a routine part of complex dialogue processes and do not signify a collapse in talks. The mediators remain optimistic about the direction of the negotiations.

The update follows Israel’s decision on Thursday to recall its negotiating team from Doha for internal consultations after receiving Hamas’s latest response to the ceasefire proposal. However, a senior Hamas official confirmed that mediators have informed the group of Israel’s intention to return to the talks next week, signaling a continuation of efforts to reach a resolution.