Hamas announced on Sunday that it rejects new conditions imposed by Israel in the ongoing Gaza ceasefire negotiations, diminishing hopes for a breakthrough in the US-backed effort to end the 10-month conflict.
Despite months of intermittent talks, no agreement has been reached to halt Israel’s extensive military campaign in Gaza or secure the release of hostages taken by Hamas during its October 7 attack, which sparked the current war.
The negotiations, mediated by the United States, Egypt, and Qatar, are stalled over key issues, including Israel’s presence in the Philadelphi Corridor—a 14.5 km (9-mile) stretch along Gaza’s southern border with Egypt. Hamas alleges that Israel has reneged on a commitment to withdraw troops from the Corridor and introduced new demands, such as screening displaced Palestinians before they can return to Gaza’s northern regions once a ceasefire is in place.
Hamas official Osama Hamdan stated, “We will not accept discussions about retractions from what we agreed to on July 2 or new conditions,” during an interview with Al-Aqsa TV.
In July, Hamas had agreed to start talks on releasing Israeli hostages, including soldiers, 16 days after the first phase of an agreement aimed at ending the Gaza conflict. Hamdan criticized US claims of an imminent deal, labeling them as misleading.
The ongoing negotiations remain at an impasse, with little sign of progress as both sides continue to navigate complex and contentious issues.
