Mediator says talks on Gaza not ‘progressing as expected’

The destruction after an Israeli strike on a residential building in Rafah (Hatem Ali/AP)

Talks on a potential ceasefire deal in Gaza “have not been progressing as expected” in the past few days, after good progress in recent weeks, key mediator Qatar said on Saturday, as Israel’s prime minister accused the Hamas militant group of not changing its “delusional” demands.

Speaking during the Munich Security Conference, Qatar’s prime minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdurrahman Al Thani, said there were difficulties in the “humanitarian part” of the negotiations.