Gaza Peace Talks Face Hurdles Over Governance, Withdrawal, and Hamas‘s Role
Washington D.C. – Negotiations for a potential ceasefire and long-term peace in Gaza are encountering meaningful obstacles centered on the future governance of the territory, the extent of Israeli military withdrawal, and Hamas’s anticipated role, according to details of a proposed plan emerging this week. The plan, reportedly backed by the United States, aims to establish a framework for ending the ongoing conflict, but faces resistance from both Israeli hardliners and Hamas.
A central point of contention is the governance of Gaza. The proposed plan stipulates that an entity comprised of Palestinian leaders,including those from the West Bank,would govern Gaza,with no role for Hamas in governing the territory. This is likely to be rejected by Hamas, which has indicated its expectation of a future role as part of ”a unified palestinian movement.” Both former President Trump and Israeli officials are expected to oppose any such involvement.
The plan outlines a phased Israeli military withdrawal from gaza “based on standards, milestones, and timeframes” agreed upon by all parties. A White House-distributed map suggests three stages, initially leaving Israel in control of approximately 55% of Gaza, then 40%, and finally 15% as a “security perimeter” to counter potential terrorist threats. Tho, the plan lacks a clear timeline for full withdrawal, a key demand from Hamas. Moreover, discrepancies between the White House map and Israeli military maps, including inaccuracies in Gaza’s borders, have been noted.
The proposed deal also comes amid domestic political challenges for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He faces accusations of prolonging the war to maintain power, with far-right members of his coalition threatening to collapse the government if the war ends before Hamas is destroyed. The current plan represents a departure from earlier proposals, such as a “riviera” redevelopment of Gaza involving Palestinian displacement, which had garnered support from Netanyahu and Trump.
Netanyahu also faces a resumption of his corruption trial should the war conclude. While ending the war could offer a political benefit – recent polls indicate approximately 70% of Israelis favor a ceasefire in exchange for hostage releases – he will ultimately face elections in 2026.
