Qatari negotiator: all civilian hostages in Gaza could be freed in days but

A Qatari negotiator told Sky News that he hoped civilians being held hostages by Hamas in Gaza could be released within days.

Mohammed Al Khulaifi, senior negotiator and Qatar's minister of state for foreign affairs told Sky News the negotiations were "very difficult" but progress was being made.

He cautioned, however, that any escalation in the conflict could jeopardise those efforts.

"If there is a continuing bombing, if there is continued escalation in the situation, our task is getting more difficult. The mediators need a period of calm."

"Our political position has been clear since day one. When it comes to the Palestine situation. Palestine deserves to have an independent state by itself based on the Arab Peace Initiative. Two-state solution with the border of 1967 and East Jerusalem as its capital. This isn't nothing new," he said.

Meanwhile, international efforts have been partially focused on negotiating access for humanitarian aid in Gaza, and Al Khulaifi warned that without assistance "it's going to be disaster".

"The situation over there is really horrible. The lack of water, food, medicine, fuel to generate the energy over there. It is not going to help sustaining the situation", he said, but added that he believed the international community "in general recognize the importance of a humanitarian aid."

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