Efforts to extend the Gaza ceasefire have collapsed, with negotiations in Qatar failing to produce an agreement, a Palestinian official told the BBC. The United States has blamed Hamas for making what it called “entirely impractical” demands during the talks.
Breakdown in Negotiations
The talks aimed to build on the first phase of a temporary truce that ended on March 1. The U.S. proposed extending the ceasefire until mid-April, allowing for a further exchange of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza and Palestinian prisoners detained in Israel.
However, the Palestinian official stated that Israel and Hamas remain at odds over key aspects of the deal presented by U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not yet publicly commented, but his office confirmed he would receive a detailed briefing from Israeli negotiators later on Saturday.
The White House was quick to criticize Hamas’s position. In a joint statement, Witkoff’s office and the U.S. National Security Council said, “Hamas is making a very bad bet that time is on its side. It is not.” They warned that if Hamas failed to meet the negotiation deadline, there would be consequences.
Israel and Hamas Clash Over Ceasefire Terms
The original three-phase ceasefire agreement, reached in January after 15 months of war, saw Hamas release 25 Israeli hostages and the remains of eight others, along with five Thai hostages. In exchange, Israel freed about 1,800 Palestinian prisoners.
The next phase was expected to include the release of all remaining living hostages in Gaza in return for additional Palestinian prisoners. However, the sides disagree over the numbers and terms. A key sticking point is the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, which the original deal stipulated should have already begun.
Hamas insists Israel must begin its troop withdrawal, while Israel refuses to comply.
Meanwhile, Israel has blocked aid shipments to Gaza and cut electricity in an attempt to pressure Hamas. According to Israeli intelligence estimates, Hamas still holds 24 living hostages and the remains of 35 others.
Hostage Offers and U.S. Response
On Friday, Hamas indicated it was willing to release the last known Israeli-American hostage, Edan Alexander, a 21-year-old soldier captured near Gaza. The group also offered to return the bodies of four other dual nationals taken during the October 7 attacks.
However, the offer was met with skepticism. U.S. envoy Witkoff accused Hamas of trying to appear flexible in public while making unreasonable demands in private.
Humanitarian Crisis Deepens
The war, triggered by Hamas’s October 7 attack, has resulted in the deaths of over 1,200 people in southern Israel, with 251 taken hostage. Israel’s subsequent military offensive has killed more than 48,520 people, according to figures from Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry, which are used by the UN.
Most of Gaza’s 2.1 million residents have been displaced, with severe shortages of food, medicine, fuel, and shelter. An estimated 70% of buildings have been damaged or destroyed, and Gaza’s healthcare and sanitation systems have collapsed.
With negotiations failing, the humanitarian crisis continues to worsen, and both sides remain entrenched, leaving little hope for an immediate resolution.
