Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman al-Thani has said that there had been “false” reports on negotiations to release Israeli hostages held in Gaza, without elaborating, Reuters reports.

Al-Thani said during a news conference in Doha with French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna that there were complexities in the field due to “Israeli military practices” in Gaza.

Qatar’s foreign ministry said that efforts to secure the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza required a “period of calm”.

Leaks from the negotiations are “harmful” and make it difficult for mediators to do their jobs, ministry spokesperson Majed Al Ansari said during a press conference in Doha.