Negotiations over the future of Gaza have hit a significant deadlock as Israel and the United States officially rejected a joint proposal from Palestinian factions, including Hamas.
The rejected paper sought to link the disarmament of armed groups to the establishment of a Palestinian state and firm security guarantees.
According to senior Palestinian sources, the factions proposed that discussions regarding the weapons of Hamas and other groups occur within a "national framework." They insisted that disarmament must be tied to the granting of full political rights and a definitive end to the killing of civilians in Gaza.
Disagreements have intensified following recent mediation efforts in Cairo and Istanbul. The U.S. and Israel continue to demand that Palestinian factions disarm before a technocratic government is established in Gaza. In contrast, Palestinian negotiators argue that laying down arms is impossible without a clear political resolution and a sovereign state.
The rejection was accompanied by "threatening messages" from U.S. officials to the Palestinian negotiating team, sources told Middle East Eye.
The Palestinian document also accused Israel of violating the October ceasefire agreement brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump.
Israeli forces reportedly moving beyond the agreed-upon "yellow line" into a new "orange line," encroaching deeper into Gaza.
Israel’s failure to meet the requirement of 600 aid trucks per day.
Reports indicate that over 700 Palestinians have been killed in the six months following the ceasefire, with the total death toll in Gaza now exceeding 72,000.
In response to the stalled talks, Israel’s security cabinet is scheduled to meet on Sunday. Local media suggests the government may discuss a formal "renewal of the war" in Gaza, claiming Hamas has failed to meet disarmament obligations.
Meanwhile, mediators from Egypt and Turkey continue to push for a roadmap that ensures a complete Israeli withdrawal and the reconstruction of the enclave, though a breakthrough remains unlikely while the prerequisite of disarmament remains a "red line" for both sides.
