Palestinian sources: Israeli withdrawal plans have stalled Gaza ceasefire talks, Al Arabiya reports

Palestinian sources: Israeli withdrawal plans have stalled Gaza ceasefire talks, Al Arabiya reports

Indirect talks between Hamas and Israel aimed at securing a ceasefire in Gaza are being held up by Israel's proposed withdrawal plans, according to Palestinian sources. The negotiations, facilitated by Qatar and Egypt, have been ongoing since Sunday in Doha. The talks are centered around a U.S. proposal for a 60-day ceasefire, which includes the release of hostages and Israeli troop withdrawals [2].

Palestinian sources have expressed concern over Israel's latest withdrawal maps, which they believe indicate a continued Israeli military presence in Gaza. The maps propose maintaining a "buffer zone" of up to 3km (1.8 miles) deep in certain areas, including the southern city of Rafah and substantial parts of northern and eastern Gaza [1]. Hamas has rejected these proposals, demanding a complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from the territory [3].

The talks have also been hindered by disagreements over the distribution of humanitarian aid. Hamas insists that aid should be distributed via United Nations agencies and international relief organizations, while Israel is pushing for aid distribution through the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) [1]. Despite some progress on this issue, no formal agreement has been reached.

With the negotiations at a critical juncture, Palestinian officials are calling on the U.S. to intervene more forcefully and pressure Israel to make meaningful concessions. Without such intervention, mediators warn that the talks could collapse entirely, further complicating regional efforts to reach a durable ceasefire and avert a broader humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza [1].

The conflict in Gaza, which began on October 7, 2023, has resulted in the deaths of at least 57,823 people and the displacement of nearly the entire population of more than 2 million people. The humanitarian crisis has left much of the territory in ruins [2].

References:
[1] https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cqjq9p87vdvo
[2] https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2025-07-12/gaza-truce-talks-faltering-over-withdrawal-palestinian-and-israeli-sources-say
[3] https://english.alarabiya.net/News/middle-east/2025/07/12/gaza-ceasefire-talks-held-up-by-israel-withdrawal-plans-palestinian-sources