Hamas Submits Ceasefire Response as Gaza Truce Talks Stall
The Palestinian militant group Hamas has officially submitted its response — along with that of other Palestinian factions — to an ongoing ceasefire proposal, according to a statement released Wednesday on Telegram.
Israel confirmed receipt of the response, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office stating that the document “is currently being evaluated.”
A Palestinian source familiar with the negotiations in Doha said Hamas included proposed amendments in its reply. These cover key issues such as the delivery of humanitarian aid, maps of areas for Israeli military withdrawal, and demands for guarantees of a permanent end to the war.
Indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas have been ongoing in the Qatari capital for over two weeks, mediated by international actors including the United States and Qatar. The central focus is a potential truce that would include the release of Israeli hostages still held in Gaza.
Out of the 251 people abducted during Hamas’s October 2023 attack, 49 remain in Gaza, with the Israeli military confirming 27 of them are presumed dead.
Despite intense mediation efforts, talks have hit a stalemate, with both sides accusing each other of intransigence. Israel insists on dismantling Hamas’s military and political power, while Hamas demands a permanent ceasefire, full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and unrestricted entry of humanitarian aid.
Israeli government spokesperson David Mencer accused Hamas of blocking progress. “Israel has agreed to the Qatari and updated U.S. proposals. It is Hamas that is refusing,” he said, noting that Israel’s negotiating team remains in Doha.
Meanwhile, U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff is set to travel to Europe this week to discuss ceasefire and aid corridor options with allies.
Amid the political deadlock, humanitarian agencies issued grave warnings. Over 100 aid organizations reported that “mass starvation” is worsening across Gaza, adding urgency to the need for a truce and sustained humanitarian access.
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