Israel's desire to maintain a military presence in the Gaza Strip is complicating consultations between mediators and the parties to the conflict, which are taking place in Doha, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported, citing sources in the Palestinian enclave.
According to one of the agency's sources, Israel has presented a map of the withdrawal of troops from the Gaza Strip, which according to the Palestinian side “is only a plan for the relocation and regrouping of the Israeli army“. "Israel continues to drag out [the talks] and obstruct the achievement of an agreement in order to continue the war of annihilation," another source told AFP.
The map presented by Israel “provides for the military to remain in more than 40% of the Gaza Strip“. He noted that the Palestinian movement Hamas rejects the plan. According to another AFP source, the movement demands “a complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from all areas occupied after March 2, 2025“
At the same time, one of the AFP sources specified that some progress was made in the consultations in Doha on issues related to the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip and the exchange of Israeli hostages held in the enclave for Palestinian prisoners held in Israel.
On July 6, Hamas and Israel, with the mediation of Egypt, Qatar and the United States, resumed the negotiation process in Doha, which aims to reach an agreement on a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of Israeli hostages held in the enclave.
On July 8, the advisor to the Prime Minister of Qatar, the official spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Majid bin Mohammed al-Ansari said that the talks had not yet begun and that Qatari and Egyptian mediators were holding consultations with Hamas and Israeli representatives to bridge differences and set a framework for future talks. He noted that reaching agreements on a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip would take time.