Qatar and Egypt have informed the United States that the chances of Hamas accepting the latest Gaza cease-fire proposal are minimal, according to reports from Israeli media on Wednesday. The warning comes after recent cease-fire talks in Qatar concluded with a new proposal aimed at bridging the gaps between Israel and Hamas. Despite being in line with principles supported by U.S. President Joe Biden, the proposal was rejected by Hamas, which claims it aligns too closely with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s conditions.
Sources cited by the Israeli public broadcaster KAN revealed that Qatari and Egyptian mediators cautioned Washington that Hamas is unlikely to agree to the terms. The mediators, despite participating in the talks and Friday’s announcement, chose not to be directly associated with the U.S. proposal, indicating their concerns over its acceptance.
Following the talks, Hamas issued a statement rejecting the proposal, arguing that it meets Netanyahu’s demands, particularly his refusal of a permanent cease-fire, his continued occupation of strategic locations like the Netzarim Junction, the Rafah crossing, and the Philadelphi Corridor, and his new conditions on the hostage exchange.
Hamas reiterated its commitment to previous agreements based on Biden’s announcement in May and the UN Security Council resolution in June, emphasizing that the new conditions obstruct any progress towards a deal.
For months, the U.S., Qatar, and Egypt have been engaged in efforts to mediate a cease-fire and secure a prisoner exchange between Israel and Hamas, as well as to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza. However, these efforts have been hindered by Netanyahu’s refusal to meet Hamas’s demands for an end to hostilities.
The conflict, which escalated after a Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, has resulted in significant casualties, with over 40,170 Palestinian deaths, predominantly women and children, and more than 92,740 injuries reported by local health authorities. The ongoing Israeli offensive has been condemned internationally, with Israel facing accusations of genocide at the International Court of Justice, which has called for a halt to military operations in Rafah, where a large number of Palestinians had sought refuge. The blockade of Gaza continues to exacerbate the humanitarian crisis, with severe shortages of essential supplies.–News Desk