by 
*Cairo, 12 July 2025* – Negotiations between Israel and Hamas in Qatar for a new Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal are teetering on the edge of failure, according to Palestinian officials involved in the talks.A senior Palestinian negotiator accused Israel of stalling the process during Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Washington this week, claiming the Israeli delegation sent to Doha lacked the authority to resolve key disputes. These include the withdrawal of Israeli troops and the mechanism for delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza. Netanyahu, speaking before leaving the US on Thursday, expressed optimism, stating he hoped to finalise an agreement “in a few days.” The proposed deal would see Hamas release half of the 20 living hostages and just over half of the 30 deceased hostages it holds during a 60-day truce. Since last Sunday, Israeli and Hamas negotiators have held eight rounds of indirect “proximity” talks in separate buildings in Doha, mediated by Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani, senior Egyptian intelligence officials, and US envoy Brett McGurk. Dozens of messages have been relayed between the two sides, which include Israeli military, security, and political officials. However, Palestinian officials reported on Friday night that the talks were faltering due to deep divisions. A major sticking point is the distribution of humanitarian aid. Hamas insists that aid must be delivered through UN agencies and international relief organisations, while Israel advocates for a controversial mechanism led by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, backed by Israel and the US. Mediators noted limited progress on this issue, but no formal agreement has been reached. Another contentious issue is the extent of Israel’s military withdrawal. During the fifth round of talks, Israel proposed a limited “buffer zone” inside Gaza, 1-1.5km (0.6-0.9 miles) deep. Hamas viewed this as a potential basis for compromise. However, a subsequent map provided by Israel showed buffer zones extending up to 3km (1.8 miles) in some areas, covering all of Rafah, 85% of Khuzaa, parts of Beit Lahia, Beit Hanoun, and eastern Gaza City neighbourhoods like Tuffah, Shejaiya, and Zeitoun. Palestinian officials described this as a bad-faith move that further eroded trust. “They were never serious about these talks,” a senior Palestinian negotiator told the BBC, accusing Israel of using the negotiations to create a false impression of progress during Netanyahu’s US visit. The official also alleged that Israel’s broader strategy involves forced displacement, pointing to Defence Minister Israel Katz’s plan to relocate Gaza’s 2.1 million residents to a “humanitarian city” in Rafah. The proposal, which includes security screenings and restricted movement, has been widely condemned as a blueprint for a “concentration camp” by human rights groups and academics. The UN reports that 86% of Gaza is currently under Israeli-militarised zones or evacuation orders. The war, triggered by a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, which killed 1,200 people and saw 251 taken hostage, has devastated Gaza. According to the Hamas-run health ministry, at least 57,823 people have been killed in the territory since the conflict began. With the Doha talks at a critical juncture, Palestinian officials are urging the US to pressure Israel for meaningful concessions. Mediators warn that without swift progress, the negotiations could collapse entirely, risking a deeper humanitarian crisis in Gaza. A regional official described the process as “hanging by a thread,” emphasising the fragile window for compromise.
