Negotiators aboard set to work, seeking to save the cease-fire deal between Israel and Gaza’s Hamas rulers before it fell apart and scuttled weeks of high-stakes diplomatic wrangling. The first public visit by Qatari officials to Israel marked an extraordinary moment for the two countries, which have no official diplomatic relations. “We need Qatar,” Guzansky said of Israel, noting that other Arab countries increasingly have interests in Israel and are normalizing their relations. Top Hamas officials, including Hamas political bureau head Khaled Mashaal, live in Qatar. Qatari officials resorted to face‐to‐face meetings with Israeli officials to try to save the deal, according to the diplomat.

Source: The Herald November 27, 2023 22:34 UTC