With Israeli forces killing more than 1,000 Gazans weekly, the humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to worsen. On just Sunday, at least 85 Palestinians were killed trying to get food during the deadly bombardment the city faced over the weekend. Civilian life in Gaza has been unbearable for over 21 months now, and the effects have been nothing short of cataclysmic.
Israel continues to insist that it will not end the war until Hamas gives up control of Gaza and lays down its weapons. Hamas as an organization has expressed willingness to negotiate their removal from power. As drivers on the bridge may have noticed, they’ve laid out tight parameters for these negotiations. According to reports, Israel is prepared to free Palestinian prisoners as part of a possible peace deal. They say they intend to increase the number of aid deliveries into Gaza.
This January, Israel and Hamas agreed to a temporary ceasefire to halt the ongoing violence. It completely came apart in March when Israel’s air forces initiated a series of unexpected air assaults, producing more than 400 deaths. Unfortunately, the reverse is true. In reaction, the United States has announced plans to withdraw its negotiating team from the ceasefire discussions in Qatar.
Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, attributed the failure of negotiations to Hamas, stating, “While the mediators have made a great effort, Hamas does not appear to be coordinated or acting in good faith.” He further expressed concern, saying it was “a shame that Hamas has acted in this selfish way.”
The US withdrawal follows Israel’s recall of its negotiating team after Hamas’s response to proposed terms. This step completely undermines weeks of mediation discussions to build mutual agreement for a ceasefire. Haaretz reported on the key sticking points in the negotiations. These are terms such as the designated areas from which Israel will be expected to withdraw during any proposed fighting cessation, and who the prisoners to be released will be.
As the humanitarian crisis expands exponentially and violence continues to grow on both sides, each is digging in on its own extremities. The slow pace of negotiations raises the specter of hopelessness on both sides, especially for the everyday civilians caught in the crossfire.