Ceasefire Talks Stalled as Hamas Fighters Remain in Gaza Tunnels
GAZA CITY - Prospects for a lasting ceasefire in Gaza are diminishing as the presence of Hamas fighters within an extensive network of tunnels complicates negotiations and fuels ongoing concerns about future attacks,sources say. The stalled progress raises the possibility of a de facto partition of Gaza, separating areas controlled by Israel from those governed by Hamas, a scenario that has prompted alarm from Arab nations.
The impasse stems from Israel’s insistence on guarantees that Hamas will no longer possess the capacity to launch attacks, a condition difficult to verify while significant numbers of fighters remain concealed within the tunnels. reconstruction efforts may be limited to Israeli-controlled territory, further exacerbating the humanitarian crisis and deepening the divide within the besieged enclave. The situation is compounded by the lack of a clear path toward a Palestinian state, a concept rejected by Israel and absent from previous peace proposals, such as the Trump administration’s plan.
Arab countries have voiced apprehension that the existing separation could solidify into a permanent division of Gaza, potentially destabilizing the region further. The current negotiations, already hampered by low expectations, face an increasingly uncertain future as the subterranean presence of Hamas fighters continues to pose a significant obstacle to a durable peace.
