Efforts Made by Mediators to Secure Gaza Ceasefire Deal, Yet Israel and Hamas Still at Odds

There is a strong push for a new ceasefire and release of hostages to ease the suffering of Palestinian civilians in Gaza and Israeli hostages held by Hamas. So far, efforts by Qatar, Egypt, and the US to mediate a deal have not been successful. However, recent reports suggest that there is progress being made in indirect talks between Israel and Hamas. On the other hand, Israeli officials caution that there are significant differences on fundamental issues that need to be resolved. The main sticking point in the negotiations appears to be the disagreement on how to achieve a complete end to the war. According to a senior Palestinian official, Cairo has proposed a five-stage framework to Hamas, starting with a humanitarian truce in which Hamas would release the remaining hostages they are holding, including women, children, and the elderly. In exchange, some Palestinians would be released from Israeli jails and aid to Gaza would increase. The framework also includes a long-term ceasefire and the complete cessation of hostilities. The release of the remaining Israeli hostages would be accompanied by the release of more Palestinian prisoners. However, Israel insists on keeping its forces on the ground until the last stage of the process, while Hamas demands that the complete withdrawal of Israeli troops and the return of displaced residents to their homes happen earlier. Reports suggest that Hamas is demanding a full ceasefire, while Israeli negotiators are only willing to accept a pause that could be extended as conditions evolve. The US Middle East envoy, Brett McGurk, is actively involved in discussions in the region to secure a new deal to bring home the hostages and establish a humanitarian pause. During a week-long ceasefire in late November, 105 Israeli and foreign hostages were freed, while 240 Palestinian prisoners were released. However, the truce collapsed when both parties rejected the terms to extend the hostage release in exchange for Palestinian detainees. There are significant differences between the public declarations of both sides and what may be negotiable. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that nothing less than "absolute victory" in Gaza can be accepted, while some commentators believe that completely destroying Hamas is not realistic. One non-negotiable demand for Israel and its Western allies is the removal of Hamas leaders from power in Gaza to prevent a repetition of the attacks that occurred three months ago. Unconfirmed reports suggest that Israel offered to allow top Hamas leaders to relocate to other countries as part of a ceasefire and hostage release proposal, but Hamas claims to have rejected this offer. With a high death toll in Gaza and a catastrophic humanitarian situation, international calls for a ceasefire have become difficult for Israel to ignore. Moreover, the families of Israeli hostages have been protesting and rallying, making the return of their loved ones a priority in domestic politics. The recent reports denying progress in negotiations with Hamas will cause general anxiety, but it is encouraging that both sides have not indicated that they are abandoning the talks.