Israel-Hamas cease-fire stalemate poses barrier as Gaza aid blocked
Mediators from the United States, Egypt and Qatar struggled to bridge huge differences between Israel and Hamas as they convened in Doha in an attempt to break the impasse on a Gaza cease-fire deal that could either extend the first phase of the truce, or reach a deal on the second stage.
The talks take place amid deteriorating humanitarian conditions and hunger triggered by Israel’s blockade. Hamas said Israeli troops are not adhering to the truce as they still occupy the border area between Gaza and Egypt, preventing aid from reaching Gaza.
The group also slammed Israel for violating the cease-fire agreement and undermining it by stalling the troops’ withdrawal from the Philadelphi Corridor.
“Israel has not complied with the gradual drawdown of its forces during the first phase, nor has it begun its withdrawal as scheduled,” Hamas was quoted as saying by Turkiye’s Anadolu Agency.
“The withdrawal was supposed to be completed by the 50th day of the agreement, which was (March 9).
Yet it has not happened,” Hamas added, as it called on mediators and the international community to intervene and pressure Israel to honor its commitments and resume the second phase of talks. Hamas also said it showed flexibility in dealing with mediators.
Adam Boehler, the US envoy for hostage affairs, revealed in an interview with Israeli broadcaster Kan News that Hamas had proposed a five to 10-year cease-fire deal and a full prisoner exchange in backroom talks.
Boehler also clarified that the series of interviews was meant to explain the US position. He also defended the talks by saying Washington is “not an agent of Israel”.
US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff said there needed to be “a deadline” for the negotiations with Hamas. He was speaking during an interview with Fox News before traveling to the Middle East region where he is expected to join negotiators in Doha.
Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Palestinian Libération Organization have presented Egypt’s Arab League-endorsed Gaza reconstruction plan to US Envoy Witkoff. In the meantime, US President Donald Trump is backpedaling from his earlier statements about displacing Palestinians from Gaza, which Hamas has welcomed.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, meanwhile, has demanded that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu grant Israel’s negotiating team in Doha a full mandate to reach an agreement on returning all hostages immediately and at once, according to a statement. It added that foot-dragging would cost the lives of more hostages.
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich admitted during a news conference at the end of his party’s weekly meeting in the Knesset in Jerusalem on (March 10) that a return to fighting would pose a challenge to the safety of the hostages, the Jerusalem Post reported.
Israel on (March 9) announced it cut off electricity supply to Gaza in the run-up to the planned discussions in the Qatari capital despite a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement. The previous week, it ordered the blocking of humanitarian aid from entering Gaza, increasing widespread hunger. Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Jordan condemned Israel’s decision.
Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, noted it had been almost 10 days since Israel banned the entry of humanitarian aid and commercial supplies into Gaza.
Muhannad Hadi, the UN’s humanitarian coordinator for the occupied Palestinian territory, has said that “international humanitarian law is clear” and Israel must allow “unimpeded entry” of aid supplies to Gaza.
Hunger spreads in Khan Younis as Israel keeps up the blockade on Gaza.
The International Committee of the Red Cross, in a statement on March 10, warned the suspension of aid to Gaza by Israel, including the recent electricity cut, risks plunging the Palestinian enclave further into an “acute humanitarian emergency”.
Agencies contributed to this story.
