The Media Line: Doha Talks Loom as Israel Faces Fresh Rocket Barrage From Lebanon

US and Israeli negotiators will gather in Doha in the coming days in a renewed attempt to secure a cease-fire in Gaza and facilitate the release of hostages held by Hamas. The upcoming negotiations come as Israel faces increasing attacks from Lebanon, further complicating the situation on the ground and raising the stakes for diplomatic efforts in the Middle East.

Qatar and Egypt, who have acted as mediators in talks between Israel and Hamas, are expected to play key roles in these discussions. The talks, which previously stalled in August, aim to end the violence that erupted after Hamas launched its attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who traveled to the region this week, expressed cautious optimism that negotiations could resume following the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. Sinwar had been identified by US officials as a major obstacle to reaching an agreement. After meeting with Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Blinken told reporters, “We talked about options to capitalize on this moment and next steps to move the process forward. I anticipate that our negotiators will be getting together in the coming days.”

This comes amid the aftermath of a Thursday rocket barrage that hit the northern Israeli city of Karmiel. A residential building was damaged in the attack, which came as part of an intense escalation from Lebanon. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) stated that their air defenses intercepted five rockets, but over 120 projectiles have been launched from Lebanon throughout the day. An 84-year-old man was reportedly injured in the assault.

Despite the uncertainty, Blinken remains hopeful that dialogue can lead to progress. “Going back to the negotiations on cease-fire and the hostages, one of the things we’re doing is looking at whether there are different options that we can pursue to get us to a conclusion, to get us to a result,” he said, underscoring the ongoing discussions between US, Qatari, and Egyptian officials.