Israel has presented a new proposal to Qatari mediators for a partial withdrawal of its forces from Gaza, signaling potential progress in indirect ceasefire talks with Hamas, according to Israel’s state-owned Kan TV.
New Map Presented in Doha
In the proposal, unveiled in Doha on Wednesday, Israel outlined a plan to pull back from the Morag Corridor, an area between Rafah and Khan Younis—the largest city in southern Gaza. Israeli forces had previously seized this area, transforming it into a fortified military zone. The corridor, established in April, is one of several “security zones” created by Israel by demolishing buildings and infrastructure to divide the enclave.
An Israeli official described the new proposal as marking “substantial progress” in the negotiations, indicating a possible shift in Israel’s stance, as officials had previously insisted on maintaining their military presence in the Morag Corridor.
Comments from Leaders
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump remarked, “We’re getting very close to a deal on Gaza,” but cautioned that nothing was certain. President Trump met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Tuesday to discuss the potential agreement. Despite the optimistic tone, no breakthrough was announced following their meeting.
On the Palestinian side, Hamas released a statement on Wednesday night, expressing its agreement to release 10 hostages as part of the ongoing peace negotiations.
Stalemate in Negotiations
Earlier, Mohammed Al-Hindi, Deputy Secretary-General of Palestinian Islamic Jihad, told Qatar’s Al-Araby TV that no real breakthrough had been achieved. He cited continued disagreements over key issues, including the Israeli withdrawal, the entry of humanitarian aid, and guarantees for the post-ceasefire phase.
Negotiating teams have been in Doha since Sunday, engaging in indirect talks on a U.S.-backed 60-day ceasefire proposal. The deal would involve the release of 10 living hostages and the remains of several others. Israel estimates that approximately 50 hostages are still held in Gaza, with about 20 believed to be alive.
Ongoing Conflict
Israel launched its offensive following a Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of about 1,200 people and the taking of 250 hostages. According to authorities in Gaza, at least 57,680 people have been killed since the start of the war.
Expert Analysis
Commenting on the developments, Professor Niu Xinchun of the China-Arab States Research Institute of Ningxia University noted that the objectives of both sides are fundamentally incompatible.
“Hamas’s basic demand is to survive, which means Israel must completely end the war and agree to a permanent ceasefire. However, Israel has two goals: first, to rescue all the hostages; second, to completely eliminate Hamas—which means a permanent ceasefire is not possible,” Professor Niu explained.
He added that unless both parties make concessions on their core demands, the chances of reaching a lasting agreement remain slim.
