**Reports indicate failed negotiations between Israel and Hamas, as humanitarian conditions in Gaza worsen amid ongoing conflict.**
**US Dismisses Hamas Proposals as Ceasefire Negotiations Stall**
**US Dismisses Hamas Proposals as Ceasefire Negotiations Stall**
**As the Gaza truce teeters, the US condemns Hamas's demands as impractical, leaving the future uncertain.**
The Bid to extend the fragile Gaza ceasefire hit an impasse, with reports emerging that a Palestinian official has labeled the negotiations as unsuccessful. The US, serving as an intermediary, criticized Hamas's demands as “entirely impractical,” failing to find common ground during talks in Qatar.
Following the initial phase of the ceasefire that ended on March 1, discussions aimed at prolonging peace efforts have stalled. The US had suggested an extension until mid-April, which would involve the exchange of hostages held by Hamas and Palestinian prisoners in Israel. Nevertheless, discrepancies between Israel and Hamas on key negotiation points, as outlined by US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, hindered progress.
While Israel has yet to officially respond, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office indicated he is awaiting updates from the negotiating team, highlighting earlier statements claiming Israel's acceptance of the US proposal. However, Hamas responded that negotiations have collapsed completely. A spokesperson from the White House confirmed that Hamas's reaction did not align with the proposed terms, expressing concerns over the group's strategic miscalculations regarding the timeframe.
The original ceasefire agreement established a three-phase plan, which began in January after more than a year of conflict. The first stage concluded with the return of Israeli hostages alongside the liberation of nearly 1,800 Palestinian prisoners in exchange. The unresolved second stage aims to facilitate further hostage exchanges, yet fierce divisions persist over numbers and the timeline for withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza—an issue that remains contentious.
Amid this deadlock, Israel recently imposed restrictions by blocking humanitarian aid and reducing electricity to Gaza, aiming to exert pressure on Hamas. As of now, Hamas retains up to 24 living hostages, alongside the remains of 35 others. In an effort to demonstrate willingness to negotiate, the group has stated its readiness to release Edan Alexander, the last known living Israeli-American hostage it is holding, alongside the remains of four dual nationals.
Witkoff has dismissed Hamas's gestures, insisting that the group's public display of flexibility lacks substance in private discussions. The devastating assaults initiated by Hamas on October 7, 2023, resulted in over 1,200 deaths in Israel, prompting an Israeli military response that has reportedly claimed more than 48,520 lives in Gaza, predominantly civilians, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
As reality unfolds, the humanitarian crisis deepens in Gaza, where an estimated 2.1 million residents face severe displacement, infrastructural collapse, and shortages of essential resources such as food, water, and healthcare. The stakes are high as the international community watches the negotiations unfold in a bid for a sustainable resolution while grappling with a humanitarian disaster.
Following the initial phase of the ceasefire that ended on March 1, discussions aimed at prolonging peace efforts have stalled. The US had suggested an extension until mid-April, which would involve the exchange of hostages held by Hamas and Palestinian prisoners in Israel. Nevertheless, discrepancies between Israel and Hamas on key negotiation points, as outlined by US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, hindered progress.
While Israel has yet to officially respond, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office indicated he is awaiting updates from the negotiating team, highlighting earlier statements claiming Israel's acceptance of the US proposal. However, Hamas responded that negotiations have collapsed completely. A spokesperson from the White House confirmed that Hamas's reaction did not align with the proposed terms, expressing concerns over the group's strategic miscalculations regarding the timeframe.
The original ceasefire agreement established a three-phase plan, which began in January after more than a year of conflict. The first stage concluded with the return of Israeli hostages alongside the liberation of nearly 1,800 Palestinian prisoners in exchange. The unresolved second stage aims to facilitate further hostage exchanges, yet fierce divisions persist over numbers and the timeline for withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza—an issue that remains contentious.
Amid this deadlock, Israel recently imposed restrictions by blocking humanitarian aid and reducing electricity to Gaza, aiming to exert pressure on Hamas. As of now, Hamas retains up to 24 living hostages, alongside the remains of 35 others. In an effort to demonstrate willingness to negotiate, the group has stated its readiness to release Edan Alexander, the last known living Israeli-American hostage it is holding, alongside the remains of four dual nationals.
Witkoff has dismissed Hamas's gestures, insisting that the group's public display of flexibility lacks substance in private discussions. The devastating assaults initiated by Hamas on October 7, 2023, resulted in over 1,200 deaths in Israel, prompting an Israeli military response that has reportedly claimed more than 48,520 lives in Gaza, predominantly civilians, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
As reality unfolds, the humanitarian crisis deepens in Gaza, where an estimated 2.1 million residents face severe displacement, infrastructural collapse, and shortages of essential resources such as food, water, and healthcare. The stakes are high as the international community watches the negotiations unfold in a bid for a sustainable resolution while grappling with a humanitarian disaster.
