Qatar Urges a Gaza Ceasefire After a ‘Positive Response’ From Hamas

This picture taken from a position on the Israeli border with the Gaza Strip, shows destroyed buildings in the besieged Palestinian territory on August 19, 2025. Gaza’s civil defence agency reported that 31 people were killed on August 19 by Israeli strikes and fire across the territory, with spokesman Mahmud Bassal telling AFP the situation was “very dangerous and unbearable” in the Zeitoun and Sabra neighbourhoods of Gaza City, where he said “artillery shelling continues intermittently”. (Photo by Jack GUEZ / AFP) (Photo by JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images)

JERUSALEM (AP) — A key mediator on Gaza is stressing the urgency of brokering a ceasefire after Hamas showed a “positive response” to a proposal. But Israel has yet to weigh in as its military prepares an offensive on some of the territory’s most populated areas. The prospect of an expanded assault on areas sheltering hundreds of thousands of civilians has sparked international outrage. Palestinians say nowhere is safe, and many Israelis fear for the remaining hostages held in Gaza. Qatar on Tuesday warned that even if a ceasefire deal is reached, it will not be “instantaneously implemented.”