Doha, Qatar — Efforts to secure a ceasefire in Gaza are facing setbacks as disagreements over the extent of Israeli troop withdrawals continue to stall negotiations, according to Palestinian and Israeli sources familiar with the talks.
The indirect discussions, held in Doha, revolve around a U.S. proposal for a 60-day ceasefire. Despite the hurdles, both parties are expected to persist with negotiations in hopes of reaching an agreement.
Hamas has rejected the withdrawal maps proposed by Israel, which would leave approximately 40% of the Gaza Strip under Israeli control, including significant portions of the southern area near Rafah and additional territories in northern and eastern Gaza.
"The proposed maps are unacceptable as they do not respect our territorial integrity," a Palestinian source stated. "We seek a complete withdrawal to pre-offensive lines."
Israeli sources indicated that Hamas is demanding Israel retreat to positions held during a previous ceasefire before the offensive was renewed in March. "Hamas wants us to pull back to earlier lines, which poses security concerns," an Israeli source explained.
Challenges also persist regarding humanitarian aid and guarantees for ending the conflict. The Palestinian source suggested that increased U.S. intervention might help resolve these issues.
The White House announced that President Donald Trump's envoy, Steve Witkoff, who has played a significant role in crafting the latest ceasefire proposal, will travel to Doha this week to join the discussions.
Delegations from Israel and Hamas have been in Qatar since Sunday, engaging in renewed efforts to forge an agreement that includes a phased release of hostages, Israeli troop withdrawals, and discussions on permanently ending the war.
Hamas has long insisted on an end to the war before releasing the remaining hostages. Conversely, Israel maintains that it will cease fighting only when all hostages are freed and Hamas is dismantled.
The conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants entered Israel, resulting in the deaths of about 1,200 people and the abduction of 251 hostages into Gaza. It is believed that at least 20 of the remaining 50 hostages are still alive.
Since then, Israel's campaign against Hamas has led to the deaths of more than 57,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities. The offensive has displaced nearly the entire population of over 2 million people, sparked a humanitarian crisis, and left much of the region in ruins.
As the negotiations continue, the international community watches closely, hoping for a breakthrough that could bring an end to the ongoing conflict and alleviate the suffering of millions.
