Gaza ceasefire talks paused and planned to resume next week

Gaza ceasefire talks in Doha were paused Friday, with plans to resume next week mediators said, according to Reuters. The United States, Qatar, and Egypt released a joint statement saying the Washington had presented a proposal aimed at building on points of agreement and bridging gaps between the sides to allow rapid implementation of a deal. Mediators would continue to advance the proposal over the next several days, they added.

Israel said its delegation would head home later Friday and that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was expected to meet U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken Monday. Hard to overcome obstacles include the sequencing of a deal, the number of Palestinian prisoners to be released in exchange for remaining Israeli hostages, and the free movement of Palestinians inside Gaza.

The latest round of talks between Israel and mediators started Thursday and come as regional escalation grow, particularly after the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.