Israeli refusal of refugees return blocks Gaza deal: Qatar PM
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Qatar's Prime Minister underlines that the ceasefire talks regarding the war on Gaza have been stuck mainly due to the Israeli occupation's objection to the return of displaced Palestinians in Gaza.
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Palestinians collect their belongings from the rubble of a residential building for the Moussa family after an Israeli airstrike in the Maghazi refugee camp, central Gaza Strip, March 29, 2024 (AP)
Negotiations for a ceasefire in the Israeli war on Gaza have hit a roadblock due to Israeli objections to the return of displaced Gazans to their homes, Qatar said on Wednesday.
Speaking at a press conference, Qatar's Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, identified the return of internally displaced people (IDPs) as the primary issue impeding progress.
"The return of the IDPs to their homes, which the Israelis didn't agree to yet... is the main point we are stuck in," Sheikh Mohammed stated.
In addition to the displacement issue, negotiations have also grappled with the matter of Palestinian prisoners being released by the Israeli regime in exchange for each captive freed by the Palestinian Resistance. Bin Abdulrahman acknowledged this as another outstanding issue but expressed optimism that it "can be bridged."
Despite weeks of behind-the-scenes talks, progress has been slow, with Ramadan coming to a close without a ceasefire agreement.
The major sticking points in negotiations mirror those encountered during previous talks in Paris in February, according to the Qatari premier.
"Unfortunately, the points that we were stuck in when in February we were negotiating in Paris are basically the same points we are (still) stuck in," he remarked.
Talks are set to resume in Cairo following Israeli occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's approval for fresh negotiations. Hamas politburo chief Ismail Haniyeh criticized the Israeli occupation for "continuing to procrastinate" in negotiations.
Continued Israeli stubbornness
The Israeli occupation rejected the demands made by the Palestinian Resistance once again in light of the ongoing deadlock ceasefire talks, sources in the Palestinian Resistance told Al Mayadeen in late March.
Hamas had articulated four key demands: a ceasefire, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, the return of displaced civilians, and a meaningful exchange of prisoners. However, leaked information regarding the Israeli regime's response indicates a significant gap between the two parties' positions.
The Israeli occupation's stance has been described as "inflexible" by the sources. Notably, "Israel" refuses the gradual return of displaced individuals, regardless of their demographic, and the establishment of new camps to house the hundreds of thousands of displaced individuals.
Additionally, regarding the exchange of prisoners, the Israeli occupation's proposed rates are seen as inadequate, leading to a significant reduction in the number of Palestinian detainees slated for release, the Palestinian sources added.
The deadlock in the negotiations and the rigid Israeli response clashes with Hamas and the Resistance's vision that any deal must align with their fair and flexible demands.
Previous efforts to reach a deal between the two sides fell apart as the Palestinian Resistance demanded a ceasefire and the withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces from Gaza be the basis of a prisoner exchange deal, while the Israeli side insisted on short truces and refused to promise an end to the hostilities.
Earlier, on March 15, the Islamic Resistance Movement - Hamas announced that it had presented a comprehensive vision to mediators in Qatar and Egypt a comprehensive vision regarding its stance on halting the aggression on the Gaza Strip and the issue of prisoner exchange with the Israeli occupation.
The movement emphasized in a statement that this comes as part of its follow-up to negotiations through intermediaries to halt the Israeli aggression, provide relief and assistance to the Palestinian people in Gaza, facilitate the return of the displaced to their homes, and the complete withdrawal of occupation forces from the Strip.
In its statement, it stressed that its vision is based on these principles and foundations, which it considers vital for any agreement, and that it will remain committed to the rights and concerns of the Palestinian people.
