Gaza ceasefire talks stall as 'Israel' refuses to withdraw from Gaza
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Ceasefire negotiations in Doha hit a roadblock as Hamas rejects any Israeli military presence in Gaza, demanding a full retreat.
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Displaced Palestinians walk on a road in central Gaza to return to their homes in the northern Gaza Strip, following the ceasefire deal, on January 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
Gaza ceasefire talks are stalling, with negotiations in Doha deadlocked over "Israel’s" insistence on maintaining control of over a third of the Strip, according to Palestinian sources familiar with the talks.
Despite the stalemate, both sides are expected to continue indirect negotiations over a US-backed proposal for a 60-day ceasefire, sources told Reuters on Saturday.
At the heart of the dispute is "Israel’s" attempt to entrench its occupation by retaining control over nearly 40% of Gaza’s territory, including all of southern Rafah and parts of northern and eastern Gaza.
"The negotiations in Doha are facing a setback and complex difficulties due to Israel's insistence, as of Friday, on presenting a map of withdrawal, which is actually a map of redeployment and repositioning of the Israeli army rather than a genuine withdrawal," one source said.
This would force hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians into a small area near the city of Rafah, on the border with Egypt.
The Palestinian source close to the talks said Hamas would flatly reject these maps, calling them unacceptable and a violation of previous ceasefire understandings.
"Hamas's delegation will not accept the Israeli maps... as they essentially legitimise the reoccupation of approximately half of the Gaza Strip and turn Gaza into isolated zones with no crossings or freedom of movement," they said.
Two Israeli sources noted that Hamas is demanding a return to positions held before the occupation forces resumed their offensive in March, effectively reversing further occupation made in recent months.
Beyond the maps, other critical issues remain unresolved. The Palestinian side is pushing for firm guarantees that the war will end and that sufficient humanitarian aid will be allowed into Gaza.
"The crisis may be resolved with more US intervention," one Palestinian official told Reuters, signaling that diplomatic pressure from Washington may be needed to break the deadlock.
US envoy heads to Doha as talks continue
Underscoring Trump's determination to secure a ceasefire deal, the White House announced that Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, who helped shape the current ceasefire framework, will travel to Doha this week to join the talks.
Delegations from Hamas and "Israel" have been in Qatar since Sunday in a renewed attempt to reach a deal. The framework includes a phased release of captives, a staged Israeli withdrawal, and a roadmap for ending the war altogether.
However, fundamental disagreements persist, while Hamas continues to insist that no captives will be released until the war officially ends. Meanwhile, "Israel" maintains it will not halt its campaign until all captives are returned and Hamas is dismantled.
Humanitarian situation in Gaza reaches catastrophic levels
As of July 2025, Gaza is facing one of the worst humanitarian crises in modern history. Over 57,000 Palestinians have been killed and more than 132,000 injured since October 2023, per Gaza's Ministry of Health.
Around 1.9 million people, roughly 90% of the population, are displaced, with the vast majority living in tents or makeshift shelters. Infrastructure across the territory has been devastated, with more than 90% of homes damaged or destroyed, and hospitals, water systems, and schools barely functioning.
Gaza’s health system is near collapse, with nearly half of its hospitals only partially functional and critical medical supplies nearly depleted. Acute food insecurity affects the entire population, with 470,000 facing catastrophic hunger and over a million in the emergency phase.
