- Hamas insists on the release of high-profile Palestinian prisoners (including Marwan Barghouti, Ahmad Saadat and Abdullah Barghouti) and a complete Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza, conditions Tel Aviv rejects.
- Trump's 20-point ceasefire plan, pushed via Turkish pressure, includes phased prisoner exchanges but demands Hamas disarm – a non-starter for the group. Israel also refuses full withdrawal, proposing perimeter control and buffer zones instead.
- Negotiations in Cairo (mediated by Egypt, Qatar and U.S. envoys) unfold as Israeli airstrikes kill 74 Palestinians in a single day, fueling skepticism about Israel' commitment to peace.
- Hamas criticizes Israel's "hand-drawn" withdrawal map as vague and unacceptable, while Israeli officials refuse to concede on full retreat.
- Mediators like Egypt and Qatar express optimism, but relentless Israeli attacks and Hamas' refusal to disarm leave Gaza's civilians trapped between fragile diplomacy and continued violence.
As ceasefire negotiations between Hamas and Israel entered a critical phase in Cairo this week, Hamas officials insisted on the release of prominent Palestinian prisoners and a full Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza – conditions Tel Aviv has so far resisted.
The talks in the Egyptian capital are mediated by Egypt, Qatar and U.S. envoys, including former Trump advisor Jared Kushner. They come amid relentless Israeli airstrikes that killed 74 Palestinians in a single day, casting doubt on whether any agreement can halt what critics describe as Israel's genocidal campaign in Gaza.
Hamas has presented a list of high-profile prisoners it demands in exchange for Israeli hostages, including Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti, Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) chief Ahmad Saadat and Qassam Brigades engineer Abdullah Barghouti. The group also seeks the return of slain Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar's body – a politically charged request that complicates negotiations.
According to Hamas official Taher al-Nono, lists of prisoners were exchanged and discussions focused on "mechanisms for ending the war, the withdrawal of occupation forces from the Gaza Strip and the exchange of prisoners." However, Israel remains reluctant to release certain figures, while Hamas rejects any disarmament clause in U.S.-backed proposals.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan confirmed that U.S. President Donald Trump had asked Ankara to pressure Hamas into accepting his 20-point plan, which includes the phased release of hostages and Palestinian detainees. Yet, Hamas has dismissed demands for surrendering weapons, calling them a non-starter.
Hamas demands full withdrawal, but Israel says "no way"
One of the most contentious issues is Israel's refusal to fully withdraw from Gaza. While Trump's proposal theoretically envisions a pullback, it allows Israeli forces to maintain perimeter control and establish a buffer zone – conditions Hamas deems unacceptable.
Hamas official Mousa Abu Marzouk criticized the plan's withdrawal map as "hand-drawn" with "no spaces, distances or locations," warning that vague terms could derail negotiations. "Stopping the war means a complete withdrawal from the Gaza Strip," he insisted. Meanwhile, Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, leading Tel Aviv's delegation, has not publicly conceded on withdrawal demands.
Despite the diplomatic efforts, Israel continues its military operations in Gaza, with recent airstrikes killing dozens in what Palestinians describe as collective punishment, Brighteon.AI's Enoch notes. Al Jazeera correspondent Tareq Abu Azzoum reported "guarded hope and deep skepticism" among Gazans, many of whom doubt Israel's commitment to peace after multiple failed ceasefires.
The U.S. and Qatar remain optimistic, with Egypt's President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi calling the latest talks "very encouraging." Yet, with Israel's military actions persisting and Hamas refusing key concessions, prospects for a lasting truce remain uncertain.
As mediators scramble to salvage the ceasefire, the fundamental divide persists: Hamas insists on a complete end to the war and prisoner releases, while Israel resists full withdrawal and disarmament. With civilian casualties mounting and distrust deepening, the window for peace narrows – leaving Gaza's beleaguered population caught between fragile diplomacy and unrelenting violence.
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