Europe 1 with AFP 2:49 p.m., March 24, 2024

The heads of US and Israeli intelligence services were in Doha for new talks on a truce in the Gaza Strip. For his part, the head of the UN, Antonio Guterres, visiting Egypt, called on "Israel to remove the last obstacles to aid" for the Gaza Strip, where the humanitarian situation is catastrophic, and which is threatened by starvation.

The heads of the American and Israeli intelligence services have left Doha after a new round of talks on a truce in the Gaza Strip, a source familiar with the discussions told AFP on Sunday. The head of the CIA, Bill Burns, and that of the Mossad, David Barnea, left the Qatari capital at the end of the day on Saturday "to inform their respective teams in their countries of this round" of negotiations, said this source under cover of 'anonymity. These talks "focused on details and a ratio for the exchange of hostages and prisoners", she added, specifying that the "technical teams remained in Doha".

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The mediating countries - the United States, Qatar and Egypt - have been engaged for weeks in talks on a truce, after five and a half months of devastating war between Israel and Hamas, and an agreement to release the hostages held in Gaza in exchange of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. Israel announced Thursday that the head of Mossad would travel to Doha on Friday to meet with the head of the CIA, as well as the Qatari Prime Minister and the head of the Egyptian intelligence services. It was his second visit in a week, after talks resumed following the failure of efforts to secure a truce ahead of the fasting month of Ramadan.

A Hamas official reported on Saturday "deep differences" with Israel in discussions, particularly on the ceasefire, the full return of displaced people and the management of humanitarian aid.

Information to remember:

  • US and Israeli intelligence chiefs leave Doha after fresh talks on truce in Gaza Strip

  • Mediating countries have been engaged in truce talks for weeks

  • The head of the UN, Antonio Guterres, called in Cairo "Israel to remove the last obstacles to aid" for the Gaza Strip

Antonio Guterres calls on Israel to “remove the last obstacles to aid” for Gaza, threatened with famine

The head of the UN, Antonio Guterres, called on Sunday in Cairo "Israel to remove the last obstacles to aid" for the Gaza Strip, threatened with famine, once again urging Israel and Palestinian Hamas to a "cease -immediate fire". “When you look at Gaza, it almost looks like the four horsemen of the Apocalypse are galloping above, spreading war, famine, conquest and death,” Antonio Guterres said at a joint press conference with the Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sameh Choukri. “The whole world believes that it is high time to silence the guns and put in place an immediate ceasefire,” he added.

Earlier on Sunday, he met Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi, accompanied by the head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), Philippe Lazzarini. Five and a half months of devastating war have plunged the Gaza Strip into a catastrophic humanitarian situation.

The war broke out on October 7 after an unprecedented Hamas attack on Israeli soil which resulted in the deaths of at least 1,160 people, most of them civilians, according to an AFP count based on official Israeli sources. According to these sources, around 250 people were kidnapped and 130 of them are still hostages in Gaza, of whom 33 are believed to have died. In retaliation, Israel vowed to annihilate Hamas in power in Gaza since 2007. Its army launched an offensive which left 32,226 dead in Gaza, according to the latest report from the Islamist movement's Ministry of Health.