Gaza Ceasefire Talks Near Collapse
Sticking points include troop withdrawal, aid delivery.
Negotiations in Qatar between **Israel** and **Hamas** regarding a Gaza ceasefire and the release of hostages are reportedly on the verge of failure. Key disagreements persist, threatening to prolong the conflict.
Stalled Progress
According to a senior Palestinian official, **Israel** has been intentionally delaying the negotiation process. They claim that during **Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s** visit to **Washington**, **Israel** stalled by dispatching a delegation to Doha lacking the authority to make critical decisions.
These contentious issues encompass the withdrawal of **Israeli** forces from Gaza and the procedures for distributing humanitarian aid to the affected population.
Contentious Points
**Hamas** insists that humanitarian aid must enter Gaza and be distributed through **United Nations** agencies and international relief organizations. Conversely, **Israel** advocates for aid distribution via the **Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF)**, a mechanism backed by both **Israel** and the **United States**.
Another critical disagreement revolves around the extent of the **Israeli** military withdrawal from Gaza. Conflicting messages and maps regarding proposed buffer zones have further eroded trust between the negotiating parties.
Accusations of Bad Faith
Palestinian officials have accused the **Israeli** delegation of deliberately stalling negotiations to create a favorable diplomatic environment during **Prime Minister Netanyahu’s** recent visit to **Washington**.
“They were never serious about these talks,”
one senior Palestinian negotiator told the BBC. “They used these rounds to buy time and project a false image of progress.”
The official also alleged that **Israel** is implementing a strategy of forced displacement under the guise of humanitarian planning. He pointed to **Israeli** **Defense Minister Israel Katz’s** plan to move Palestinians to a “humanitarian city” in Rafah as part of a broader effort to permanently relocate them.
Since the conflict began, over 1.7 million people, or over 75% of Gaza’s population, have been displaced, many of whom have been displaced multiple times (UNRWA).
Call for Intervention
Given the critical stage of discussions, the Palestinian side is urging the **United States** to intervene more decisively and exert pressure on **Israel** to make substantial concessions. Without such intervention, mediators caution that the Doha negotiations may collapse entirely.
Should the negotiations fail, it would further complicate regional efforts to establish a lasting ceasefire and avert a wider humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Diplomats in Doha indicate that a small window for compromise remains, but the situation is precarious.
“This process is hanging by a thread,”
one regional official stated. “Unless something changes dramatically and quickly, we may be heading towards a breakdown.”
In response to the **Hamas**-led attack on southern **Israel** on October 7, 2023, **Israeli** military forces launched a campaign in Gaza. The initial attack resulted in approximately 1,200 fatalities and the taking of 251 hostages.
According to the territory’s **Hamas**-run health ministry, at least 57,823 individuals have been killed in Gaza since the start of the conflict.
