Israel and Hamas are accusing each other of holding up a ceasefire agreement meant to allow hostage exchanges and deliver much-needed humanitarian aid to Gaza, Bloomberg reports.
Negotiations, taking place in Doha with mediation from the United States, Qatar, and Egypt, have faced repeated setbacks, with both sides offering different reasons for the delays.
The ceasefire announcement was initially expected late Tuesday, but disagreements have stalled progress.
Israeli officials claim Hamas added new prisoners to the exchange list at the last minute. On the other hand, a Palestinian official quoted by Qatari newspaper al-Araby al-Jadeed said Israel also included more hostages late in the talks.
Both sides have denied these accusations, leaving the reasons for the delay unclear.
Internal Disputes
There are additional challenges.
Some reports from Israeli media suggest that Hamas has asked for more information about where Israeli troops would be stationed after the ceasefire. However, Israel has denied that this has caused any delay.
At the same time, disagreements within Hamas about whether to accept the current terms have also slowed progress, according to Haaretz.
The agreement being discussed would temporarily pause fighting to allow the exchange of hostages and bring more humanitarian aid into Gaza. This ceasefire is seen as the first step toward broader talks aimed at resolving the conflict.
The main challenge, however, lies in the opposing goals of both sides. Israel wants to destroy Hamas as a military and governing force, while Hamas is focused on removing Israeli troops from Gaza. These conflicting aims make it difficult to find a lasting solution, as both sides remain firm in their positions.
Despite these issues, a spokesperson for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that negotiations are ongoing.
Reports from the Associated Press suggest that Hamas has already agreed to a draft ceasefire plan, but disagreements over key details still need to be resolved. Both sides continue to work toward a deal, though progress remains slow.
