Negotiations on Gaza Ceasefire and Hostage Release on the Brink of Collapse
Gaza Correspondent: Rushdi Abualouf, Reuters
After 21 months of ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, Gaza has suffered immense devastation. Recent negotiations in Qatar aimed at establishing a ceasefire and securing the release of hostages are reportedly nearing a breakdown, according to Palestinian officials involved in the discussions.
A senior official shared with the BBC that during Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent visit to Washington, Israel appeared to be "buying time" by sending a delegation to Doha without the authority to address crucial issues. These contentious points include the withdrawal of Israeli troops and the distribution of humanitarian aid.
Before departing from the U.S. on Thursday, Netanyahu expressed optimism, stating he hoped an agreement could be finalized "in a few days." The proposed deal would require Hamas to release half of the 20 living hostages and over half of the 30 deceased hostages during a 60-day truce.
Since last Sunday, negotiators from both sides have engaged in eight rounds of indirect talks in separate venues in Doha. These discussions have been facilitated by Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani, along with senior Egyptian intelligence officials and U.S. envoy Brett McGurk. Mediators have been relaying numerous verbal and written messages between the delegations, which include military, security, and political representatives.
However, by Friday night, Palestinian officials informed the BBC that the negotiations were on the verge of collapse due to significant divisions over critical issues. Recent talks have concentrated on two main sticking points: the mechanism for delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza and the extent of the Israeli military withdrawal.
Hamas insists that humanitarian assistance should be distributed through United Nations agencies and international relief organizations. Conversely, Israel advocates for aid to be funneled through the controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a mechanism endorsed by both Israel and the U.S. While some limited progress has been noted, no formal agreement has been reached.
The second major point of contention revolves around the degree of Israeli troop withdrawal. During the fifth round of discussions, Israeli negotiators presented a written message indicating that Israel would maintain a limited "buffer zone" of 1 to 1.5 kilometers (0.6 to 0.9 miles) inside Gaza. Hamas viewed this as a potential compromise starting point. However, when Hamas received a map detailing Israel’s proposed withdrawal areas, it contradicted earlier communications by indicating much deeper military positions, with buffer zones extending up to 3 kilometers (1.8 miles) in certain regions. This map revealed a continued Israeli presence across significant areas, including much of Rafah and substantial parts of Khan Younis, further eroding trust between the two sides.
Palestinian officials accused the Israeli delegation of intentionally stalling negotiations to create a favorable diplomatic backdrop for Netanyahu’s Washington visit. "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 was pursuing a long-term strategy of forced displacement disguised as humanitarian planning.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz’s proposal to establish a "humanitarian city" in Rafah, intended to temporarily house around 600,000 Palestinians and eventually the entire 2.1 million population of Gaza, has faced backlash. Critics argue that this plan resembles a blueprint for a "concentration camp," as Palestinians would be security screened and restricted from leaving.
The UN reports that 86% of Gaza falls within Israeli-militarized zones or is subject to Israeli evacuation orders. With negotiations at a critical stage, the Palestinian side is urging the U.S. to take a more active role in pressuring Israel for meaningful concessions. Mediators warn that without such intervention, the Doha negotiations could fail entirely, complicating efforts to establish a lasting ceasefire and avoid a humanitarian disaster in Gaza.
Diplomats in Doha acknowledge a narrow window for compromise, but the situation remains precarious. "This process is hanging by a thread," remarked a regional official. "Unless something changes dramatically and quickly, we may be heading towards a breakdown."
The Israeli military initiated its campaign in Gaza following a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 individuals and the kidnapping of 251 others. According to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry, at least 57,823 people have died in the region since that date.
