Gaza ceasefire talks held up by Israel withdrawal plans

July 13, 2025

Palestinians transport a victim to a Red Cross clinic in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip after he was reportedly shot as he waited to receive food parcels at a distribution point run by GHF on Saturday.

International Desk :

Indirect talks between Hamas and Israel for a ceasefire in Gaza are being held up by Israel’s proposals to keep troops in the territory, said two Palestinian sources with knowledge of the discussions on Saturday.
Sources at Gaza hospitals say 87 Palestinians have been killed, including 30 aid seekers, in Israeli raids on the Strip since dawn.
At least 34 Palestinians were killed on Friday while waiting for rations in Gaza, adding to nearly 800 similar deaths in the last six weeks, according to the United Nations, with Israel’s army saying it issued new instructions to troops following repeated reports of fatalities.
The US State Department says it is “aware” of reports about the killing of a US citizen by Israeli settlers in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
Delegations from both sides began discussions in Qatar last Sunday to try to agree on a temporary halt to the 21-month conflict since October 7, 2023.
Both Hamas and Israel have said that 10 living hostages who were taken that day and who are still in captivity would be released if an agreement for a 60-day ceasefire were reached.
But one well-informed Palestinian source said Israel’s refusal to withdraw all of its troops from Gaza was holding back progress on securing a deal.