Gaza Ceasefire Talks Stalled Over Israel Withdrawal Plans

Indirect negotiations between Hamas and Israel aimed at halting the nearly two-year-long war in Gaza are faltering, primarily due to disagreements over Israel’s military presence in the territory. According to two Palestinian sources familiar with the ongoing discussions, Israel’s insistence on retaining significant troop deployments in Gaza remains a key obstacle.

Talks began in Doha, Qatar, last Sunday, with both parties seeking a temporary ceasefire agreement. The proposed 60-day truce would include the release of 10 Israeli hostages who have been held since Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack. However, significant issues remain unresolved, casting doubt on the timeline for reaching a deal.

Israeli Redeployment Plans Spark Controversy

Although Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently expressed hope for a breakthrough within days, Palestinian negotiators have described Israel’s proposals as unacceptable. One source claimed that Israel’s offer focuses not on full withdrawal but on repositioning its forces — a move that, from Hamas’s perspective, amounts to continued occupation under a different label.

According to that source, Israel plans to retain military control over more than 40% of Gaza. This would effectively compress hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians into areas near Rafah, along the Egyptian border. The source warned that such an arrangement would fracture Gaza into disconnected enclaves, restricting movement and trade.

“Hamas’ delegation will not accept the Israeli maps,” the source said, adding that the plan would “legitimize the reoccupation of approximately half of the Gaza Strip.”

Another Palestinian official accused the Israeli negotiators of lacking genuine authority and deliberately obstructing progress. “They are stalling to prolong what we view as a war of extermination,” the source asserted.

Negotiations have also been paused to await the arrival of Steve Witkoff, U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy, who is expected in Doha soon.

Humanitarian Crisis Deepens Amid Ongoing Strikes

While diplomacy stalls, the humanitarian toll continues to climb. The war, now in its 21st month, erupted after Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel in October 2023, killing over 1,200 people, most of them civilians. In response, Israel launched a prolonged military campaign in Gaza that has led to devastating casualties.

Gaza’s Health Ministry reports that at least 57,823 Palestinians — the majority believed to be civilians — have died since the conflict began. Among them were 14 people killed in Israeli airstrikes on Saturday, and more than 30 on Friday, including individuals waiting for food distribution, according to Gaza’s civil defense agency.

The Israeli military said it struck approximately 250 targets in Gaza over the last 48 hours, including armed militants, tunnel systems, weapons caches, and fortified positions.

Hostage Exchanges and Ceasefire Precedents

Despite the setbacks, negotiators have made incremental progress on issues related to prisoner swaps and humanitarian aid delivery. During two earlier ceasefires — one lasting a week in November 2023 and another spanning two months starting in January 2024 — over 100 Israeli hostages were freed in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian detainees.

In the current round of talks, similar arrangements are under discussion. However, a long-term solution appears elusive without agreement on military withdrawal and control of Gaza.

Prime Minister Netanyahu continues to face mounting political pressure, both domestically and internationally, to bring the war to a close. He maintains, however, that any permanent ceasefire must include the complete disarmament of Hamas. Failing that, he warned, Israel will pursue its goals through continued military action.