Gaza cease-fire ‘closer than ever,’ say Palestinian groups amid talks

Hamas and two other Palestinian resistance groups stated Saturday that a Gaza cease-fire agreement with Israel is “closer than ever,” contingent on Israel not introducing new conditions.

Indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas, mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States, were held last week in Doha, rekindling hopes of a potential deal.

“The possibility of reaching an agreement (for a cease-fire and prisoner exchange deal) is closer than ever, provided the enemy stops imposing new conditions,” Hamas, Fatah, and the National Liberation Movement said in a rare joint statement issued after talks in Cairo on Friday.

A Hamas leader, speaking anonymously, added that the talks had made “significant and important progress” recently. “Most points related to the ceasefire and prisoner exchange issues have been agreed upon. Some unresolved points remain, but they do not hinder the process. The agreement could be finalized before the end of this year, provided it is not disrupted by Netanyahu’s new conditions.”

The leader emphasized that if a deal is reached, it will be implemented in phases, culminating in “a serious prisoner exchange deal, a permanent ceasefire, and a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.”

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed cautious optimism on Wednesday, stating, “I’m hopeful for a deal, but I don’t want to hazard a guess as to when it will materialize.”

He added that it “needs to happen,” emphasizing the urgency of securing the release of hostages under any potential ceasefire.

Challenges remain, primarily surrounding the establishment of a lasting ceasefire. Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has reiterated his opposition to withdrawing troops from the Philadelphi Corridor, a strip of land along Gaza’s border with Egypt controlled by Israel.

Another contentious issue is the governance of post-war Gaza, a subject of ongoing debate within the Palestinian leadership. Israel has made it clear that it will not allow Hamas to govern Gaza again.

Since 2007, Hamas has controlled Gaza, while the Palestinian Authority, led by Fatah, governs parts of the West Bank. Repeated attempts at mediation have failed to reconcile the two factions.

Israel launched a war on Gaza following a Hamas attack in October 2023, resulting in nearly 44,600 deaths, many of them civilians, and more than 105,700 injuries. The conflict has sparked growing international condemnation, with aid blockades and civilian casualties drawing widespread criticism.

Last month, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its actions in Gaza.