Doha (TDI): Efforts to broker a ceasefire in Gaza have hit a roadblock, with both Palestinian and Israeli sources saying the main sticking point is how far Israeli troops would pull back from the territory, according to Reuters.
The talks, currently taking place in Doha, center around a US-backed proposal for a two-month truce. Negotiators say discussions will continue, but there’s little sign of immediate progress.
According to a Palestinian official close to the talks, Hamas has rejected Israel’s proposed withdrawal maps, arguing they leave nearly 40% of Gaza under Israeli control. This includes all of southern Rafah, where intense fighting has raged for weeks, and portions of northern and eastern Gaza.
Two Israeli officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that Hamas is demanding a full return to the lines held during a previous ceasefire that collapsed in March when Israel resumed its offensive, the report added.
Read More:Â Gaza Ceasefire Talks Advance, No Deal Yet
The Palestinian official also mentioned that disagreements persist over humanitarian aid and long-term security guarantees. Some involved in the talks believe more direct US pressure may be needed to break the deadlock.
Washington appears to be stepping in. The White House said earlier this week that Steve Witkoff, the US envoy who helped shape the current truce plan, will be in Doha soon to join the negotiations.
Delegates from both Hamas and Israel have been in Qatar since last Sunday. The proposal on the table includes a phased release of hostages, a pullback of Israeli forces, and eventually, talks about ending the war altogether.
Read More:Â Hamas Ready for Immediate Gaza Ceasefire Talks
But that remains a tall order. Hamas has insisted it won’t release the remaining hostages until Israel agrees to end the war. Israel, for its part, says there will be no end to the fighting until all hostages are freed and Hamas is dismantled.
The war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas fighters launched a deadly cross-border attack, killing around 1,200 people and abducting 251 others. Israel says at least 20 of the 50 remaining hostages are still alive.
Since then, Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has killed more than 57,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials. Nearly the entire population of over 2 million has been displaced, with vast parts of the enclave reduced to rubble and a humanitarian crisis growing worse by the day.
Farkhund Yousafzai is an Associate Editor at The Diplomatic Insight.
