Negotiations for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas are currently at a virtual standstill, with both sides at an impasse, according to NBC News.
According to NBC sources in regional diplomatic missions, there is no progress in the discussions as tensions between Israel and Iran since early April have come to the fore and complicated the negotiation process. The source did not provide information about further plans to resume negotiations.
The Times of Israel reported, citing an Israeli official, that Hamas representatives rejected every point of the agreement in the recent negotiations. In particular, the militants announced their readiness to release only 20 hostages in the first stage instead of 40, provided there was a complete ceasefire and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip.
Negotiations on an agreement between Hamas and Israel are being mediated by the US, Qatar, and Egypt. Israel insists on the need for security control to be established in Gaza after the end of hostilities. According to the Israeli side, there are still 129 hostages in the enclave, including 34 whom the IDF considers dead.
Israel-Hamas negotiations
During the attack by militants on Israel on October 7, 2023, many civilians and military personnel were captured. From the first days of the conflict, negotiations have been ongoing for a prisoner exchange and ceasefire. It is believed that in the first days of the attacks, terrorists killed 1,200 civilians and soldiers and kidnapped about 250 Israelis and foreigners.
At the same time, about half of the hostages were released during a week-long pause in hostilities, which ended on December 1, 2023. It is unknown how many of the remaining 130 hostages are still alive.
In early April, the US proposed a new ceasefire plan between Israel and Hamas and the release of hostages.
Later, it was reported that Iran's attack had a negative impact on negotiations between Israel and Hamas for a ceasefire.