In a significant setback to the latest U.S.-backed effort to end the 10-month-old war in Gaza, Hamas announced on Sunday that it rejects new Israeli conditions put forward in ceasefire talks. The move has cast further doubt on the chances of a breakthrough in the negotiations, which have been ongoing for months.
The talks, mediated by the United States, Egypt, and Qatar, have been aimed at bringing an end to Israel’s devastating military campaign in Gaza and securing the release of the remaining hostages seized by Hamas in its October 7 attack on Israel. However, despite months of on-off negotiations, a deal has yet to be reached, with several key sticking points remaining unresolved.
One of the main areas of contention is the Israeli presence in the so-called Philadelphi Corridor, a narrow 14.5 km-long stretch of land along Gaza’s southern border with Egypt. Hamas has long demanded that Israeli troops withdraw from the Corridor, which has been a major point of dispute in the talks.
However, according to Hamas, Israel has now backtracked on a previous commitment to withdraw its troops from the Corridor, instead putting forward new conditions that the Palestinian group has deemed unacceptable. These conditions include the screening of displaced Palestinians as they return to the enclave’s more heavily populated north when the ceasefire begins.
“Hamas rejects the new Israeli conditions, which are a clear attempt to undermine the talks and impose new restrictions on the Palestinian people,” said a Hamas spokesperson. “We will not accept any conditions that compromise the rights and dignity of our people.”
The rejection of the Israeli conditions by Hamas has sparked widespread concern among Palestinians in Gaza, who have been living under Israeli siege for over 15 years. The war, which began in October, has had a devastating impact on the enclave, with thousands of Palestinians killed or injured and widespread destruction of homes and infrastructure.
“We are tired of the empty promises and broken agreements,” said Amal Abu Shawish, a resident of Gaza City. “We just want to live in peace and dignity, without the constant fear of Israeli attacks and siege.”
The failure to reach a ceasefire agreement has also been met with frustration from the international community, which has been calling for an end to the violence and a return to negotiations. The United States, in particular, has been pushing for a deal, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken recently expressing optimism that a breakthrough was possible.
However, with Hamas’s rejection of the Israeli conditions, it remains unclear whether a deal can be reached. The Palestinian group has made it clear that it will not accept any agreement that compromises the rights and dignity of the Palestinian people, and Israel’s refusal to withdraw its troops from the Philadelphi Corridor remains a major stumbling block.
As the situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate, Palestinians are calling on the international community to take action to end the Israeli siege and bring about a lasting peace. “We need the world to stand with us and demand that Israel respect our rights and dignity,” said Abu Shawish. “We will not give up our struggle for freedom and justice, no matter how long it takes.”
In the meantime, the people of Gaza remain trapped in a cycle of violence and poverty, with no end in sight. As the war drags on, the humanitarian situation in the enclave continues to worsen, with widespread shortages of food, water, and medicine.
The international community must act now to bring about a lasting peace in Gaza and end the Israeli siege. The Palestinian people deserve to live in dignity and freedom, and it is the responsibility of the world to ensure that their rights are respected.
