UNS/AFP/Reuters: The leaders of Qatar and Egypt have met in Cairo, both hoping to mediate a de-escalation of violence in the Gaza Strip, the provision of humanitarian aid, and the release of Israeli hostages.
The talks between Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani discussed intensified efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza and the delivery of sufficient quantities of aid for its 2.3 million besieged residents, a statement from Sisi’s office said.
Qatar said “joint efforts to stop the aggression against Gaza, reduce escalation and bring in urgent humanitarian aid” were discussed.
The Qatari emir’s visit comes a day after Qatar’s prime minister met the chiefs of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and Israeli spy agency Mossad in Doha to discuss the parameters of a deal for a hostage release and a pause in fighting between Israel and Hamas.
The health ministry in Gaza has said that 11,078 people have died in five weeks of an Israeli military campaign targeting the besieged enclave and hapless civilians since October 7.
The death toll includes 4,506 children, a health ministry statement said, while 27,490 people have been wounded in the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
