Palestinian militant group Hamas and Israel have traded blame over their failure to conclude a ceasefire agreement, despite progress reported by both sides in recent days. Hamas claims that Israel has laid down new conditions, including troop deployments and the return of prisoners, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says that Hamas is reneging on understandings already reached and creating difficulties in the negotiations.
According to Hamas, Israel has set new conditions related to withdrawal, ceasefire, prisoners, and the return of displaced persons, which has slowed down the agreement. The group also stated that it is showing flexibility and that the talks, mediated by Qatar and Egypt, are serious.
Netanyahu accused Hamas of lying, reneging on understandings that have already been reached, and continuing to create difficulties in the negotiations. He also emphasized that Israel will continue its efforts to return hostages.
The United States and Arab mediators Qatar and Egypt have escalated their efforts to conclude a phased deal in the past two weeks. One of the challenges is reaching an agreement on Israeli troop deployments. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said that Israel will maintain security control over the Gaza Strip, including buffer zones and controlling posts.
Meanwhile, Israeli forces have continued to exert pressure on the northern Gaza Strip, with airstrikes targeting three hospitals and several residential areas, killing at least 24 people across Gaza. The Israeli military has also struck several targets in the Al-Mawasi area, a designated humanitarian zone, killing and wounding several Palestinians.
The war in Gaza has so far killed more than 45,300 Palestinians, with most of the population of 2.3 million displaced and much of the territory in ruins. The conflict was triggered by Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack on southern Israel, which killed 1,200 people and left 251 hostages taken to Gaza.
