Israel withdrawal plans halt Gaza ceasefire, Palestinian sources reveal
Israel’s Military Presence in Gaza Fails to Secure a Ceasefire with Hamas
Delegations in Qatar have stalled after Israel refuses to withdraw troops from Gaza.
Key Points of the Negotiations
- Ceasefire Conditions: Both sides agree that 10 hostages captured on 7 Oct 2023 will be released if a 60‑day ceasefire is enacted.
- Israel’s Position: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expects a deal “in a few days,” which could pave the way for a permanent halt to hostilities.
- Hamas’s Demand: Full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza – a condition that Israel rejects.
Reasons for the Stalemate
One Palestinian source, speaking anonymously, explained that Israel’s insistence on presenting a “withdrawal map” actually amounts to a redeployment of 40 % of the territory, leaving displaced Palestinians compressed near Rafah on the Egypt border.
Hamas’s delegation will not accept these maps; they legitimize reoccupation of roughly half the Gaza Strip, isolating zones with no crossings or freedom of movement.
Another source accused the Israeli delegation of lacking authority, alleging it is “stalling and obstructing the agreement to continue the war of extermination.”
Military Operations and Casualties
The Gaza war began after Hamas’s attack on 7 Oct 2023, which caused at least 1,219 deaths, mostly civilians. 251 hostages were seized; 49 remain in captivity, 27 of whom are presumed dead.
Since the conflict’s onset, 57,823 Palestinians, mainly civilians, have been killed, according to Hamas-run Gaza’s health ministry. Recent Israeli strikes killed at least 14 Palestinians, with more than 30 people killed on Friday, including 10 awaiting aid handouts.
In the last 48 hours, Israeli forces targeted approximately 250 terrorist sites across the Gaza Strip, including:
- Terrorists, booby‑trapped structures, weapons storage facilities
- Anti‑tank missile launch posts, sniper posts, tunnels, and additional terrorist infrastructure sites
Historical Ceasefires and Progress
Two previous ceasefires—a week‑long truce in late November 2023 and a two‑month truce from mid‑January—released 105 hostages in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
Netanyahu, under domestic and international pressure to end the war, stated that neutralizing Hamas as a security threat is a prerequisite for long‑term talks. He requires Hamas to give up weapons, warning that failure to do so would compel Israel to do so by force.
