Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Talks Hit Wall Over Aid, Troops

Efforts to broker a new ceasefire and hostage release agreement between Israel and Hamas have hit a roadblock in Doha, Qatar, following three days of indirect negotiations, according to a Palestinian source familiar with the discussions.

The source told the BBC that the talks remain stalled over two critical points: the delivery mechanism for humanitarian aid during the ceasefire and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from occupied areas of Gaza.

While a breakthrough appeared possible earlier this week, especially after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held an unscheduled second meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, hopes have since dimmed.

U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff had said on Tuesday that negotiators had narrowed the list of disagreements down to a single issue and expressed optimism about securing a 60-day truce by the end of the week.

“The momentum has been building,” Witkoff stated.

“We were dealing with four major sticking points, and now only one remains.

“That gives us hope that we’re close.”

Netanyahu echoed that cautious optimism in a statement Wednesday, saying his meeting with Trump focused on securing the release of hostages held by Hamas.

He credited continued military pressure by Israeli forces for maintaining leverage in the talks.

“We will not let up,” Netanyahu declared.

“Our goals remain the full release of all hostages, both living and deceased, and the dismantling of Hamas’s military and governing capabilities.

“We must ensure Gaza can never again pose a threat to Israel.”

According to Israeli officials, approximately 50 hostages remain in Hamas custody, with around 20 believed to be alive.

Despite positive signals from Washington and Jerusalem, a Palestinian official said progress has been minimal in the Doha talks, which resumed on Sunday.

The official blamed Israel’s refusal to allow unrestricted humanitarian aid into Gaza through the United Nations and other international agencies as a major stumbling block.

Instead, Israel is pushing for aid to be distributed through the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a U.S.- and Israel-backed initiative that relies on private contractors and bypasses the UN.

The Palestinian side has described this mechanism as “humiliating” and unfit for meeting Gaza’s urgent humanitarian needs.

Additionally, the official cited Israel’s insistence on maintaining its military presence in parts of Gaza it re-entered on March 18, following the collapse of a previous ceasefire.

This demand has further complicated efforts to finalize a deal.

Qatar, which is mediating alongside Egypt and the United States, urged patience.

“I don’t think I can offer a timeline at this moment,” said Majed al-Ansari, spokesman for Qatar’s Foreign Ministry.

“But it is clear that more time will be needed.”

While the negotiations aim to end the war, now in its 21st month, the complexity of the issues involved continues to hinder progress.

Still, U.S. officials remain hopeful. Witkoff is expected to return to Doha shortly for further discussions.

According to multiple reports, the current ceasefire proposal would unfold in stages over 60 days.

Hamas would release 28 hostages—10 alive and 18 deceased, in phases.

In return, Israel would free a significant number of Palestinian prisoners and expand humanitarian aid shipments to Gaza.

Under the terms being discussed, Israeli forces would begin withdrawing from parts of northern Gaza on the first day of the agreement, following the release of the initial group of hostages.

A week later, additional withdrawals would take place in the south.

On Day 10, Hamas would provide information about remaining hostages, while Israel would release data on more than 2,000 Palestinians detained during the conflict.

Meanwhile, violence on the ground has continued unabated.

The Hamas-run Civil Defense agency reported that at least 20 Palestinians were killed in overnight Israeli airstrikes, some targeting a tent encampment in Khan Younis in the south and others striking homes in al-Shati refugee camp, near Gaza City.

The Israeli military has yet to comment on the latest attacks.

Israel’s offensive in Gaza began after Hamas launched a surprise assault on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people and capturing 251 hostages.

Since then, Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry says over 57,000 people have been killed.

Nearly the entire population has been displaced, and the region faces catastrophic shortages of essential supplies as infrastructure collapses under the weight of ongoing war.

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