Negotiations over Gaza stalled - Arguments persist on the pullout of Israeli military forces - Ensuring the safety of the Palestinian population falls under the European Union's obligations.
The ongoing ceasefire talks in Doha, Qatar, aimed at ending the 21-month conflict in Gaza, are facing a significant hurdle due to the stalemate in negotiations over Israel's troop presence in the region.
Israel's Defense Minister, Israel Katz, has proposed building a "humanitarian city" on the ruins of the border town of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip for 600,000 Palestinians displaced by the war. However, this plan has been met with criticism, with some viewing it as a potential internment camp that could lead to forced deportation.
The Israeli military has denied accusations that its soldiers shot at those seeking humanitarian aid, but the extent of Israel's troop withdrawal during the ceasefire remains a point of contention. Israel continues its attacks on Hamas positions, bunkers, tunnels, and weapons depots at several locations in the Gaza Strip with great intensity.
Hamas opposes Israel's proposal for partial troop redeployment, insisting on a full Israeli withdrawal. The group views Israel’s map as a redeployment plan that essentially legitimizes continued military presence and partial reoccupation of about half of Gaza. This has led Hamas to reject proposals and hold firm on this demand, causing the negotiations to face a setback and near collapse.
Israel has indicated its willingness to present a detailed proposal with new lines of redeployment and a different withdrawal timetable, contingent on progress on a permanent arrangement and including key aspects like humanitarian aid delivery and the release of hostages. However, Hamas’s refusal to accept anything short of full withdrawal has reignited disagreements, undermining previous consensus on other issues.
Thousands of people demonstrated in Tel Aviv and other Israeli cities for the release of all hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Eli Scharabi, a speaker at the central rally in Tel Aviv, stated that the window of opportunity to bring all hostages, both living and dead, home is now open but not for much longer.
The body of Scharabi's kidnapped brother Jossi is still being held in Gaza. Scharabi himself was a hostage in Hamas tunnels in Gaza for 16 months and learned after his release that his wife and two young daughters were killed in a terrorist massacre from the Gaza Strip on October 7, 2023.
Mediators have even considered postponing the talks until the arrival of US President Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, to finalize details. Meanwhile, Hamas is accused by Israeli officials and the PMO of sabotaging negotiations to pressure the Israeli public, further complicating efforts.
As the deadlock continues, the hope for a permanent cessation of hostilities and the release of the last hostages remains uncertain. The stalemate in the troop withdrawal negotiations in Gaza between Israel and Hamas is a major obstacle in advancing the ceasefire talks, threatening any breakthrough toward ending hostilities.
[1] Haaretz (2023). Hamas Rejects Israeli Proposal for Partial Troop Withdrawal in Gaza. [online] Available at: https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/palestinians/.
[2] The Times of Israel (2023). Israel Accuses Hamas of Sabotaging Doha Talks. [online] Available at: https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-accuses-hamas-of-sabotaging-doha-talks/.
[3] Al Jazeera (2023). Israel Proposes Building 'Humanitarian City' in Gaza. [online] Available at: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/10/10/israel-proposes-building-humanitarian-city-in-gaza.
[4] Reuters (2023). Ceasefire Talks in Gaza Stalled over Troop Withdrawal. [online] Available at: https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/ceasefire-talks-gaza-stalled-over-troop-withdrawal-2023-10-10/.
[5] The Guardian (2023). Thousands Protest in Tel Aviv for Release of Gaza Hostages. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/oct/10/thousands-protest-in-tel-aviv-for-release-of-gaza-hostages.
- The ongoing stalemate in the troop withdrawal negotiations between Israel and Hamas, a key issue in the ceasefire talks, has been linked to the broad political landscape and general news, as the European Union continues to emphasize its commitment to upholding the UN Charter and promoting peace in war-and-conflicts situations.
- In the face of continued disagreements over Israel's troop presence in Gaza and the proposal for a "humanitarian city," politics and international relations take center stage, with the UN Charter serving as a guiding principles for global efforts to achieve long-lasting peace and ensure humanitarian assistance in troubled regions.
