Gaza's Armistice Negotiations Failed Due To Troop Withdrawal

Gazans follow the location of the distribution of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF)/UnICEF/Eyad El Baba aid

The negotiations aimed at securing a ceasefire in Gaza have stalled due to the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Palestinian territories.

Palestinian and Israeli sources familiar with negotiations in Doha on Saturday, July 12, said indirect negotiations on US proposals for a 60-day ceasefire are expected to continue, despite the latest obstacles in reaching an agreement.

Palestinian sources say Hamas has rejected Israel's proposed withdrawal map, as the map will leave about 40% of territory under Israeli control, including the entire southern region of Rafah and the further areas in northern and eastern Gaza.

As reported by Reuters, two Israeli sources said Hamas wanted Israel to retreat to the line it maintained in the previous ceasefire before continuing its attacks in March.

The Palestinian source said issues related to aid and guarantees to end the war also presented challenges. According to him, the crisis could be resolved with further US intervention.

The White House on Monday said Trump's envoy, Steve Witkoff, who played a major role in drafting the latest ceasefire proposal, would visit Doha this week to join the discussions there.

Delegations from Israel and Hamas have been in Qatar since Sunday in a new effort to reach an agreement that includes gradual release of hostages, withdrawal of Israeli troops, and discussions to end the war completely.

Hamas has long demanded an end to the war before releasing the remaining hostages; Israel insists that it will end the fighting only after all hostages are released and Hamas disbanded.

The war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants stormed Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 people hostage to Gaza. It is reported that 20 of the remaining 50 hostages are believed to be still alive.

Israel's next attack on Hamas has killed more than 57,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's health authorities, displaced nearly the entire population of more than 2 million people, sparked a humanitarian crisis, and devastated most of the region.