The United States, Egypt, Qatar and Türkiye urged all sides to honour the Gaza ceasefire and exercise restraint after a Miami meeting to review the truce that began on October 10. Officials reported humanitarian gains — more aid, returned captives’ remains and partial troop withdrawals — but said Israeli strikes and mounting civilian suffering continue. Mediators called for rapid steps to operationalise a transitional administration and deploy an international stabilisation force, while warning the deal could falter without Hamas disarmament and stronger protections for civilians.
US, Egypt, Qatar and Türkiye Urge Restraint As Israeli Strikes Continue In Gaza
Displaced Palestinians gather to receive food portions at a charity kitchen in the Nuseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip [AFP]
The United States, Egypt, Qatar and Türkiye urged all parties to honour the Gaza ceasefire and exercise restraint following talks in Miami, the US chief envoy said. Senior officials from the four mediator countries met with Steve Witkoff, the US special envoy, to review the first phase of the ceasefire that took effect on October 10.
Ceasefire Review and Ongoing Violence
The meeting came as Israeli strikes continued across the Gaza Strip. Palestinian Civil Defence authorities reported that an Israeli strike hit a school sheltering displaced people on Friday, killing six people and raising the number of Palestinians killed by Israeli fire since the truce began to about 400. Gaza’s Civil Defence also said it recovered 94 bodies from rubble on Saturday, many taken to Al-Shifa Medical Complex for forensic processing and subsequent burial.
Progress Noted, Next Steps Planned
Saturday’s joint statement highlighted some progress during the first phase of the agreement, including increased humanitarian aid deliveries, the return of captives’ remains, partial force withdrawals and a general reduction in hostilities in some areas. The mediators called for the “near-term establishment and operationalisation” of a transitional administration foreseen for the deal’s second phase and said consultations on implementation would continue in the coming weeks.
Terms And Political Stakes
Under the truce terms, Israel is expected to withdraw from positions inside Gaza, an interim authority would govern the territory instead of Hamas, and an international stabilisation force would be deployed. US officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, urged international contributions of troops for the stabilisation force and reiterated calls for the disarmament of Hamas, warning that the agreement could unravel without that step.
Separate Talks And Humanitarian Concerns
A separate meeting in Istanbul between Hamas chief negotiator Khalil al-Hayya and Turkish intelligence chief İbrahim Kalın resulted in a Hamas statement asserting the group’s commitment to the ceasefire while condemning what it described as continuing Israeli violations. Hamas officials also emphasised urgent humanitarian needs ahead of winter — tents, caravans and heavy equipment to protect displaced families from cold and flooding amid widespread infrastructure destruction.
Context And Casualty Reporting
Relief agencies warn that winter storms and restrictions on aid flows are worsening conditions for hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians across the enclave. The article reports that, since October 2023, more than 70,700 people in Gaza have been killed and over 171,000 injured — figures presented in the original report and attributed to its sources; these numbers are highly contested and depend on different reporting organisations and methodologies.
Statement From The US Envoy: “We reaffirm our full commitment to the entirety of the President’s 20‑point peace plan and call on all parties to uphold their obligations, exercise restraint, and cooperate with monitoring arrangements,” Steve Witkoff said in a statement posted on X.
The situation remains fragile: mediators point to tangible humanitarian gains but warn that continued violence, delays in implementing the deal’s next phase, or lack of disarmament and international support could undermine the truce and leave civilians at severe risk as winter approaches.
