ALWAGHT- According to a report, Israel’s refusal to pull its forces out of the Gaza Strip has obstructed indirect ceasefire talks between Hamas and the Zionist regime.
Delegations from Hamas and Israel began talks in Qatar aiming to agree on a 60-day ceasefire to halt the ongoing war in Gaza that started on October 7, 2023. Both sides have agreed in principle to release 10 living captives taken during Hamas’s Operation Al-Aqsa Storm if the ceasefire is implemented. However, progress is stalled due to Israel’s refusal to fully withdraw its troops from Gaza.
Israel presented a map proposing to maintain military presence over 40% of Gaza, which Hamas rejects, demanding a complete withdrawal. Hamas views the Israeli proposal as a reoccupation that would fragment Gaza into isolated zones without freedom of movement. Mediators have paused negotiations pending the arrival of US envoy Steve Witkoff to help facilitate the talks.
Despite some progress on prisoner releases and aid delivery, Palestinian sources accuse the Israeli delegation of lacking authority and deliberately obstructing an agreement to prolong the conflict. Meanwhile, Gaza’s Health Ministry reports that the war has resulted in at least 57,762 Palestinian deaths and 137,656 injuries since it began.
