Gaza truce talks dogged by deep divisions

Israel, Hamas resume indirect Gaza truce talks as key differences stall progress

JERUSALEM:

Israel and Hamas are set for more indirect talks Sunday on the Gaza ceasefire, but deep divisions persist between the two warring sides on the terms of the fragile truce.

Mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States, the initial phase of the ceasefire took effect on January 19, largely halting 15 months of deadly fighting in Gaza.

That phase ended in early March, and though both sides have since refrained from all-out war, they have been unable to agree on the next stage of the ceasefire in the Palestinian territory.

US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff told CNN on Sunday he had offered a "bridge proposal" that would see five living hostages, including Israeli-American Edan Alexander, released in return for freeing a "substantial amount of Palestinian prisoners" from Israel jails.

"I thought the proposal was compelling," Witkoff said.

"The Israelis were informed about it and advised about it beforehand and after waiting for two or three days for Hamas... we got an unacceptable response.

"It was totally unacceptable. I think there is an opportunity for them but the opportunity is closing fast," Witkoff said.

A Hamas official said the group was ready to release Alexander and the bodies of four other Israeli-Americans.

"The delegation held fruitful discussions with our Egyptian brothers, focusing on ways to advance the implementation of the ceasefire agreement in light of Hamas's acceptance of the updated American proposal," he said.

"The delegation asked mediators and guarantors, the United States, to compel the occupation (Israel) to implement the humanitarian protocol, immediately allow humanitarian aid into Gaza Strip, and begin the second phase of negotiations," the official said on condition of anonymity as he was not authorised to speak publicly on the Gaza truce.

During the first phase of the truce agreement, Hamas released 33 hostages, including eight deceased, and Israel freed around 1,800 Palestinian detainees.

Since then, Hamas has consistently demanded negotiations for the second phase, which would include a permanent end to the war, a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, the reopening of border crossings for aid, and the release of remaining hostages.