• Qatar's PM confirms some progress in Gaza ceasefire talks.
• Israel and Hamas remain at odds over key negotiation points.
• The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is worsening with UN urging aid access.
• Hamas expresses willingness to return hostages in exchange for ending the war.
• The death toll in Gaza surpasses 51,000 amid ongoing military operations.

Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani reported on April 27 that efforts to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas have made some headway. Despite this, an agreement to end the nearly 18-month-long conflict remains elusive. Sheikh Mohammed emphasized the need to address the core question of how to conclude the war, stating, "We need to find an answer for the ultimate question: how to end this war" according to Reuters and Al Jazeera.

Recent interactions have seen Israeli Mossad Director David Barnea meet with Sheikh Mohammed in Doha, aiming to secure a humanitarian deal amidst ongoing airstrikes that have severely impacted the Gaza population. Reports indicate that the talks did not clarify which aspects had progressed, with both sides still disagreeing on critical issues necessary for a ceasefire, according to Channel News Asia and Dawn.

The humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate, with dire warnings from the United Nations regarding starvation risks due to the blockade. The UN has called for Israel to lift the blockade, stressing that aid has been obstructed for over two months, exacerbating the crisis faced by the local population, as reported by Al Jazeera and Channel News Asia.

Sheikh Mohammed also relayed that Hamas has indicated readiness to return all remaining Israeli hostages if Israel would commit to ending hostilities, although Israel maintains that it seeks the release of hostages without a reciprocal agreement on a ceasefire. This reflects a significant impasse in negotiations given the ongoing violence and high casualty figures, with the number of Palestinians killed since the conflict escalated exceeding 52,000, according to Dawn and Channel News Asia.