Negotiations to secure a temporary truce in Gaza have stalled amid disagreements over how far Israeli forces would withdraw from the Palestinian territory, sources close to the talks in Doha revealed Saturday. Despite the hurdles, discussions are expected to continue over a U.S.-backed proposal for a 60-day pause in fighting.
A Palestinian official said Hamas has rejected Israelโs proposed withdrawal maps, which would leave roughly 40% of Gazaโincluding the entire southern city of Rafah and parts of the north and eastโunder Israeli military control. Two Israeli sources, meanwhile, said Hamas is demanding that troops pull back to positions held before Israel resumed its offensive in March.
The Palestinian source added that disputes over aid delivery and guarantees for a permanent end to the war remain unresolved, suggesting that greater U.S. involvement may be needed to break the deadlock. The White House announced Monday that senior envoy Steve Witkoff, a key architect of the latest proposal, will travel to Doha this week to assist in negotiations.
Delegations from Israel and Hamas have been in Qatar since Sunday, attempting to broker a deal that would include a phased hostage release, Israeli troop withdrawals, and talks on ending the conflict. Hamas has repeatedly insisted on a full ceasefire before freeing remaining captives, while Israel maintains it will only halt operations once all hostages are released and Hamasโs military capabilities are dismantled.
The war erupted on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people and abducting 251 others. At least 20 of the remaining 50 hostages in Gaza are believed to still be alive. Israelโs retaliatory offensive has killed more than 57,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials, displaced nearly the entire population, and reduced much of the enclave to rubble amid a deepening humanitarian catastrophe.
The stalled talks highlight the widening gaps between the two sides, even as international pressure mounts for a resolution to the nearly nine-month conflict.
