Iran and Qatar’s foreign ministers have discussed the latest political efforts that have been taken towards potential cessation of the Israeli regime’s ongoing war of genocide against the Gaza Strip.
Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani held the discussion during a telephone conversation on Thursday.
The top diplomats addressed the initiatives that had been proposed so far towards potential establishment of a ceasefire, exchange of captives, and transfer of international humanitarian supplies to the war-hit people of Gaza.
More than 30,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been killed as a result of the military onslaught so far.
Israel launched the campaign on October 7 last year following al-Aqsa Storm, a surprise operation by Gaza’s resistance movements against the occupied territories, during which hundreds were taken captive.
A week-long humanitarian ceasefire in late November saw an exchange of 240 Palestinian abductees held by Israel with 105 captives, including 81 Israelis and 24 foreigners, in Gaza.
Israel believes 130 captives still remain in Gaza, while there are roughly 7,000 Palestinians in Israeli jails, many of whom have been detained without charge.
On Tuesday, Qatar’s Al Jazeera television network reported details of an alleged prisoner swap deal between Israel and Hamas, under which the occupying regime would free 400 Palestinian abductees in exchange for the release of 40 held in captivity by the Gaza-based resistance group.
The swap deal, which will be accompanied by a six-week-long truce, came as part of recent talks in Paris among Israeli, American, Egyptian, and Qatari representatives, the report said.
