Ceasefire Talks in Gaza Stalled as Hamas Publicly Rebukes U.S. “Unofficial” Mediator
Despite renewed Israeli-U.S. focus and back-channel contacts, no date set for indirect negotiations with Hamas.
Watan-The fog still obscures developments on Gaza’s ceasefire file. Despite recent mediator claims of ongoing contacts, no date has yet been set for “indirect” negotiations between Hamas and Israel. Meanwhile, Hamas has publicly—and for the first time—attacked the U.S.’s “unofficial” mediator, Beshara Bahbah, who has met its leaders on multiple occasions.
As Israeli discussion of a ceasefire resurfaces—highlighting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s anticipated meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House next week—and mediators insist they have opened lines of communication, exclusive Palestinian sources told Al-Quds Al-Arabi that nothing substantive has changed.
Sources indicated that no date has been agreed for an indirect session under mediator auspices, nor has Hamas received any new proposals beyond those previously submitted by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff—which Israel deemed too lenient.
Hopes for New Concessions Thwarted by Rehashed U.S. Truce Plan
Within resistance factions, there were hopes that mediators might present fresh proposals with real concessions to bridge disagreements on war’s end, security guarantees, and a strictly-timed two-month truce that would include a further prisoner exchange.
In recent days, Egyptian and Qatari mediators reached out to both sides—Hamas via multiple calls—and are reported to have initiated similar contacts with Israeli officials.
There are fears the same old U.S. plan, tailored to Israel’s demands, will be re-imposed through escalatory steps: renewed ground offensives, tighter blockade, and bloody raids—tactics Gazans have already endured whenever talks surface. Indeed, “unofficial” U.S. mediator Beshara Bahbah returned with the very proposals Hamas had rejected.
Hamas leader Taher al-Nunu made this clear in a recent interview, lambasting Bahbah: “There is no longer any role or mediation for Mr. Beshara Bahbah; his mandate ended long ago. He lacks the qualities of a mediator and is unfit for this role.” He added, “Regrettably, Mr. Bahbah’s grasp of the issue is shallow, so his assessment is flawed. His statements betray a fundamental misunderstanding.”
Al-Nunu blamed Israeli intransigence and Netanyahu’s refusal to halt the war for the failure of talks. He affirmed that Hamas remains serious and prepared to agree to a deal encompassing a ceasefire, Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, humanitarian relief, reconstruction, and a prisoner exchange.
