In a recent turn of events surrounding the Gaza conflict, a senior Hamas official informed the BBC that mediators have intensified their efforts to negotiate a new ceasefire and hostage release deal in Gaza. These comments came alongside US President Donald Trump’s assertion that significant progress is being made since the conclusion of the recent Israel-Iran war.
Speaking at a press briefing in Brussels, Trump stated, “great progress is being made on Gaza, I think because of this attack that we made,” referring to the US air strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities conducted over the weekend. He mentioned that his envoy, Steve Witkoff, believes that an agreement between Israel and Hamas is “very close.”
Despite these optimistic statements from the US, actual negotiations with Israel reportedly remain stalled. A senior Hamas official indicated that while mediators are deeply engaged, they have not received any new proposals as of yet. In a parallel statement, an Israeli official corroborated this sentiment, noting that significant disagreements continue to hinder progress.
The backdrop to these negotiations is grim, as recent Israeli assaults across Gaza resulted in the deaths of at least 45 Palestinians, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. Simultaneously, seven Israeli soldiers were killed in a separate attack attributed to Hamas. The airstrikes have intensified since Israeli military operations resumed on March 18, following the collapse of a previous two-month ceasefire.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza is dire, with Israel implementing a total blockade on aid deliveries earlier this year, which was only slightly eased after pressure from US allies. Currently, efforts by the US, alongside Qatar and Egypt, to broker a deal have been hampered ever since amendments proposed by Hamas were deemed “totally unacceptable” by Witkoff.
Furthermore, a new aid distribution mechanism was established, run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which uses US private security contractors to oversee aid distribution, purportedly to prevent aid from falling into Hamas’s hands. However, this system has faced criticism from the UN and other aid groups, which accuse it of aligning with Israeli interests and compromising humanitarian standards.
The ongoing violence has resulted in thousands being harmed while attempting to access aid, with Gaza’s health ministry reporting at least 549 casualties thus far as a direct consequence of these distribution efforts since May.
Reactions on the ground in Gaza display a profound dichotomy of sentiment—while some view the weakening of Iran, a pivotal ally to Hamas, as conducive to a potential ceasefire, others fear a shifted focus from Israel back to Gaza may exacerbate military operations. Eyewitness reports illustrate the despair felt by locals, who describe the humanitarian crisis as overwhelming with food inaccessible and safety elusive.
As the international community watches closely, the viability of a proposed ceasefire between Israel and Hamas hinges on continuing negotiations, which now appear more critical than ever amidst growing violence and desperation among the Gazan population.