Hamas Sources: Gaza Ceasefire Talks Ongoing Despite Israeli Obstacles
Hamas sources said Israel continues to obstruct progress in the Qatar-hosted negotiations, which have been underway for over a week with only limited breakthroughs.
'Each time there is partial progress on some provisions, the Israeli delegation delays discussions on other points and refuses to engage until it receives fresh instructions from officials in Tel Aviv,' the sources explained.
Palestinian negotiators believe this approach is designed to buy time and apply pressure on the Palestinian factions' team, while ultimately blaming them for any failure of the talks, which are dragging on due to Israel's contradictory positions.
Humanitarian Aid a Major Sticking Point
The most significant obstacle, according to Hamas, remains Israel's refusal to commit to a comprehensive withdrawal plan, as well as its insistence on maintaining the current aid delivery mechanism, which Hamas describes as a 'death trap' for civilians in Gaza.
The sources said Israel has agreed in principle to allow aid into areas it withdraws from through international organizations. However, the Palestinian delegation is demanding that assistance be delivered under the humanitarian protocol negotiated in January.
This protocol is broader than Israel's proposals and includes not only food and medical supplies, but also construction materials, equipment to repair hospitals and schools, and goods for the private sector to sell in local markets.
Israel has informed mediators that it reached an understanding with the European Union to allow 500 trucks per day into Gaza, which the Palestinian negotiators welcomed. Still, they insisted on clear guarantees that the deliveries would follow the January protocol without manipulation.
Maps and Withdrawal Timelines
Maps of military positions remain another major sticking point. The Hamas delegation is demanding that any Israeli withdrawal be based on the maps set out in the previous ceasefire agreement and implemented gradually according to a clear timetable.
That January agreement had allowed Israeli forces to remain temporarily in buffer zones around Gaza, ranging from 500 to 1,000 meters wide. The Palestinian side is adamant that troops must not remain inside Gaza itself and that the withdrawal must lead to a complete pullout in a second phase of the agreement.
According to the sources, the negotiators want precise language in each clause to prevent Israel from delaying or avoiding implementation, as has occurred in past agreements.
Waiting for US Pressure
Negotiations have not broken down, and the Hamas delegation believes American pressure will be critical to moving Israel off its current positions.
On Sunday evening, US President Donald Trump expressed hope that the ceasefire discussions would yield concrete results within days.
Later that night, a senior Hamas delegation met with Islamic Jihad leaders to coordinate positions and underscore that any deal must fulfill Palestinian aspirations, above all, ending the war, securing a full Israeli withdrawal, reopening crossings, and launching reconstruction.
Flexibility on the Morag Corridor
Meanwhile, Israel's Security Cabinet convened Sunday evening to review the possibility of a prisoner swap. According to Channel 12, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told ministers he was interested in reaching an agreement on the hostages, even as Hamas continues to reject Israel's terms. He warned that fighting could resume after any temporary ceasefire if Hamas does not accept Israel's conditions for ending the war.
Yedioth Ahronoth reported that Netanyahu, once firmly opposed to any pullback from the Morag Corridor. a strategic strip that bisects Rafah and separates it from Khan Younis - is now willing to show some flexibility.
Israeli control of the 12-kilometer corridor would allow it to further fragment Gaza and expand its security buffer zones.
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Among the many foreign diplomats I have seen come and go in Riyadh, few stand out quite like Neil Crompton, who is leaving the Kingdom after having completed a little over five years as His Britannic Majesty's Ambassador to Saudi Arabia. Crompton is, in many ways, the quintessential British diplomat. That self-deprecating wit and sharp sense of humor are trademarks of Crompton's personality, which he tends to reveal only after loosening his proverbial necktie. Like many Britons I met during my near-decade in the UK, and describe in 'Anecdotes of an Arab Anglophile' (an anthropological book I published last year about my observations of London), Crompton was hard to crack at first — reserved and diplomatic, as one would expect. But once the ice melted, I discovered a man of deep intellect, insight and genuine passion for the region. Crompton began his journey with the UK Foreign Office in 1995, ascending through key posts before heading the Middle East desk in 2015. His appointment as ambassador to the Kingdom came in early 2020 — a pivotal time, not just for Saudi Arabia, but for the world. Almost immediately after landing in Riyadh, Crompton — like the rest of the world — found himself in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. 'I have a very vivid memory of how professional and reassuring the Saudi government response was,' he told me. 'The communication was very clear. You've got a good public health system.' He added: 'There was a very important decision by the government that everybody in the Kingdom would be treated the same regardless of nationality, which is very important. So we felt very reassured by that.' When the dust of COVID finally settled, Crompton began to see the transformation Vision 2030 promised, not just on paper but in reality. 'I remember going to Riyadh Boulevard for the first time. And there was a polar bear dancing on the wall to the sound of, 'I Like to Move, Move It,'' he laughed. 'It's just a nice atmosphere, families, grandpas, grandchildren, people out and about.' But of course, the transformation of Saudi Arabia is not limited to opening up and allowing once forbidden forms of entertainment. 'When I met lots of ministers, went to ministries, you could feel the change,' he said. 'You went into ministries and you saw everyone working hard. 'People talked about KPIs. I don't remember hearing the term KPIs 10 years ago. Maybe I was wrong, but everyone was very focused, friendly, and wanted to both advance the Saudi national agenda but work out how they could collaborate with us. 'So it was sort of a mix of social change and then sort of changing corporate ethos. Britons asked me about Vision 2030. I say Vision 2030 was a vision, but now it's a plan, and it's been executed and very successfully.' During Crompton's tenure, three British prime ministers visited the Kingdom — Boris Johnson, Rishi Sunak and, most recently, Keir Starmer. As ambassador, Crompton had numerous interactions with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. But the relationship goes back further. 'The first time I met the crown prince was back in 2015,' Crompton said. 'He's very dynamic, he's on top of his brief. He's always very positive about the relationship with the UK. I think he sort of talks about it as being a strategic partner, but also says, 'you've been a historically reliable friend.' 'And so I think everyone always comes away fired up because he has so much energy and enthusiasm for what he's talking about.' The shared monarchical systems of both nations, according to Crompton, provide a foundation of mutual understanding and respect. 'I think there's a sort of natural affinity between monarchies. We're probably the minority in the world, but I think the royal families tend to know each other. And I think there's a sort of familiarity. 'When Her Majesty the Queen passed, I was very touched by the messages I got from Saudis all over the Kingdom, just saying how sorry they were to see her pass. 'And connections between individual members of the royal families still go on. I know there's constant messaging backwards and forwards, and that's very positive. 'His Majesty King Charles, he's a real expert on Saudi Arabia. I think he's made six official visits. I just met him on a couple of occasions. But each time he'd talk about things he did in the past. You remember he gave a famous speech on Islam and the West. So he's always very interested in interfaith dialogue. 'When Sheikh Mohammed Al-Issa (secretary general of the Makkah-based Muslim World League) visited London, he saw him and he talked about the work that Saudi Arabia was doing in those areas. 'But also, in the few minutes I had with him, he asked: 'Tell me what's going on at AlUla, tell me what's going on at this.' So I think there's a sort of familiarity, and I hope to nurture that.' But while royalty might be well-versed in the Kingdom's transformation, are ordinary Britons keeping pace? 'I think it takes a long time to change perceptions. There's always a time lag,' Crompton said by way of admission. 'Initially, the sort of scale of ambition when we talked about Vision 2030, people said, 'really, can you do all that?' And some people said, well, even if they do 70 percent of that, it would be impressive. 'And actually, my experience … probably 90 percent (can) be done. Saudi GDP has grown by over 70 percent since 2016. New sectors coming along.' If there was one group that quickly closed that gap, however, it was the British business community. 'One of the highlights of my time here was the GREAT Futures trade event we did last year with the Saudi Ministry of Commerce,' said Crompton. 'And for that, 450 British companies came. 'But 60 percent came for the first time, a lot from the creative industries and educational sectors who hadn't been before. And I think they all came away and said, wow. And they met Saudis and established good contacts, and a lot of business and new relationships have flowed from that.' And the numbers speak volumes. 'Bilateral trade has gone up 70 percent since COVID,' Crompton told me. 'Last year, I believe it was $17 billion each way. And we have a commitment … to try and get bilateral trade to $30 billion by 2030. '$30 billion is a magic number. Which I personally think we'll exceed. And I think investment flows each way have increased significantly. And I think in the last five years, we've invested $23 billion in the UK. There's lots of Saudi private investment.' One of Crompton's proudest efforts has been pushing forward the UK-GCC free trade agreement. 'I think we're very close,' he said. 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