Recent hopes for a breakthrough in the Gaza genocide have been dashed after the United States and Israel recalled their negotiating teams from Doha, Qatar. The move came shortly after Hamas submitted its response on Thursday to a proposed 60-day truce, effectively stalling the latest round of Gaza ceasefire talks.
The delegations’ withdrawal signals a significant setback in the more than two-week-long indirect negotiations aimed at ending the 21-month war. US special envoy Steve Witkoff accused Hamas of showing “a lack of desire” to reach an agreement, leading to the decision to cut the talks short. An official statement from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed receipt of the Hamas response and stated it was being evaluated.
Israeli aggression has led to a dire humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, with international organisations expressing grave concerns over the welfare of more than two million civilians.
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Sticking points and international pressure
According to reports, Hamas’s counter-proposal included amendments related to the entry of humanitarian aid, maps for the withdrawal of the Israeli army and crucial guarantees for a permanent end to the war. These points remain central to the deadlock.
Israel maintains that its primary goal is the complete dismantlement of Hamas’s military and governing structures. Conversely, Hamas insists on a permanent truce, a full withdrawal of Israeli forces and the unrestricted flow of aid into the besieged territory.
The stalled Gaza ceasefire talks have amplified international alarm over the humanitarian situation. The World Health Organization’s chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, warned on Wednesday of “mass starvation,” a sentiment echoed by France, which cited a growing “risk of famine” due to what it termed “the blockade imposed by Israel.”
Israel has rejected these accusations, arguing that it is allowing aid to enter but that distribution is hampered by UN agencies and that Hamas diverts supplies. COGAT, the Israeli body overseeing Palestinian civil affairs, reported that while numerous aid trucks were unloaded, hundreds more awaited collection on the Gazan side.
Since October 2023, the Israeli military campaign in Gaza has killed 59 219 Palestinians, according to the territory’s health ministry. The fate of the remaining hostages held in Gaza also remains a critical component of any potential agreement, making the future of the Gaza ceasefire talks uncertain.
Image: Israeli forces left Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City in ruins after a 14-day operation in March 2024. The hospital was the largest in the Strip. [MSF]
