Hamas Israel War: Amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza, Israel and Hamas have blamed each other for the delay in the ceasefire agreement. Following talks in Doha on Wednesday brokered by Qatar and Egypt, Hamas said the talks had made “significant progress”. However, it claimed that Israel has put forward new conditions for withdrawal of troops from Gaza, ceasefire, release of prisoners and return of displaced persons, thereby delaying agreement on a final agreement.
Israel’s denial: Hamas accused of withdrawing from consent
The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected Hamas’s allegations, saying that:
“Hamas is now retreating from the things that were agreed upon earlier in the talks. “This is disrupting the talks.”
Earlier on Tuesday, Israel had recalled its negotiators from Doha after a week of “meaningful” discussions.
Israeli team involved in talks
According to Xinhua news agency, Israel said in its statement that:
“Members of the negotiating team have returned for internal discussions on the issue of the release of the hostages.”
The team included senior officers from the Mossad, the Shin Bet security agency and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
Major obstacles to negotiations
Previous talks have failed to reach agreement on two major issues:
- Withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza:
- Hamas wants Israeli forces to leave Gaza completely and the war to end.
- On the other hand, Israel is insisting on ending Hamas’ control over Gaza and maintaining its military presence in the Palestinian territories even after the ceasefire.
- Ceasefire period:
- Hamas is insisting on a long-term ceasefire, while Israel has talked about implementing it for a limited period.
Netanyahu’s statement: signs of progress, but lack of clarity
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday that “progress has been made” on a ceasefire agreement in exchange for the release of the hostages. However, he also cautioned that the deadline for reaching an agreement has not yet been decided.
Hamas’s side
Hamas accused Israel of constantly changing the terms during the talks.
- According to Hamas, Israel added new demands in the final stages of negotiations, delaying the signing of a potential agreement.
- Hamas wants a complete end to the war and an unconditional return of prisoners and displaced persons.
Qatar and Egypt’s role in mediation
Qatar and Egypt have long been mediating peace talks between Israel and Hamas.
- During the talks, both sides are trying to find a middle path.
- The human rights situation in Gaza and the problem of those displaced by the conflict are also being discussed.
