Gaza: US envoy to Qatar for talks about extending ceasefire  

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**US Envoy Heads Qatar for Gaza Ceasefire Talks**

Steve Witkoff, the US envoy to Qatar, has arrived Doha to take part in indirect talks between Israel and Hamas on extending the fragile ceasefire in Gaza.

The negotiations come after a 42-day truce that ended on March 1. In exchange for releasing 25 Israeli hostages alive and the remains of eight others, Hamas had freed 1,800 prisoners held by Israel.

**Israel Wants to Extend Truce, Hamas Demands More**

Israel hopes that the US will propose a plan to extend the ceasefire by two months, starting with the release of half of the remaining hostages. However, Hamas has rejected this proposal and is demanding immediate talks about the second phase of the original ceasefire agreement, which would end the and lead to the full withdrawal of Israeli troops.

**Blockade of Gaza Continues**

Israel has been blocking all deliveries to Gaza since the beginning of this month, including food and fuel. The only desalination facility in the area that provides clean water has also lost electricity and is operating on generators using fuel reserves.

**Regional Tensions Rise**

The Houthi Movement in announced on Tuesday that they would resume attacks on Israeli ships traveling through the Red Sea or Gulf of Aden, threatening to bring a major maritime route back into chaos. Some of Israel’s allies have warned that the blockade of Gaza could violate .

**Desperate Times for Hostage Families**

The families and supporters of Israelis held captive in Gaza are growing desperate as negotiations stall. A camp outside the defence ministry has been set up to demand a ceasefire that would release all hostages.

**Poll Shows Half of Israelis Think US is More Concerned with Hostages**

A recent poll conducted by Channel 13 TV in Israel shows that half of respondents believe US is more concerned with the fate of hostages than Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu.

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