The map presented by Israel ‘provides for the maintenance of military forces in more than 40% of the Gaza Strip’, a territory with more than two million inhabitants; Hamas ‘firmly rejects’ this plan
Indirect negotiations between and the terrorist group to reach a ceasefire stumble at the Israeli Army withdrawal plan from Palestinian territory, two Palestinian sources near the negotiations said on Saturday (12). Delegations on both sides began negotiations in the capital of, Doha, last Sunday to try to get to a truce in the conflict triggered by the attack of Hamas to Israel on October 7, 2023.
Both Hamas and Israel indicated that ten people captured by the Islamists on that day and remain hostage to would be released if a 60-day ceasefire agreement was reached. But a Palestinian source stated that Israel’s refusal to withdraw from Palestinian territory prevent progress in negotiations, in which United States, Egypt and Qatar are mediators.
“Doha negotiations face complex obstacles and difficulties due to Israel’s insistence on introducing a withdrawal map on Friday, which is actually just a map of redistribution and repositioning of the Israeli army, and not a real withdrawal,” said one of those sources. “Israel continues to delay and obstruct the agreement in order to continue with its extermination war policy,” added another source.
According to the first source, the map presented by Israel “provides for the maintenance of military forces in more than 40% of the Gaza Strip”, a territory with more than two million inhabitants devastated for over 21 months of war. Hamas “firmly rejects” this plan, observed the source, as it implies “agglomerate hundreds of thousands of displaced people in a part of western Rafah, in preparation for a forced displacement of the population to Egypt or other countries.”
“Hamas requires total removal of Israeli forces from all areas taken by Israel after March 2, 2025” in the track, insisted the second source, which, however, reported “progress” on issues such as humanitarian aid and the exchange of hostages to Palestinian prisoners in Israel.
*With information from AFP
Posted by Nátaly Tenório
