Hamas has accused Israel of wanting to maintain long-term military control over Gaza. The claim came amid ongoing indirect ceasefire talks in Doha, Qatar. These negotiations are now in their second week with little visible progress.
According to Bassem Naim of Hamas’s political bureau, Israel has offered no new withdrawal maps. He emphasized that Israeli troops still control all of Gaza, which confirms their intention to stay in the territory. Hamas previously rejected a proposal that would have seen soldiers remain in 40% of Gaza.
Israeli media say officials are revising troop pullback plans, but Hamas dismissed these reports as misleading. Naim told AFP that what’s happening on the ground contradicts Israel’s public claims. He accused Israel of deception and ongoing occupation.
Israel argued that its military presence is needed to neutralize Hamas and protect its border. Meanwhile, Qatar—along with the U.S. and Egypt—has positioned these talks as a step toward a 60-day ceasefire, hostage release, and phased troop withdrawal. However, disagreement over troop zones has stalled progress.
The stalemate has deepened as Hamas remains firm on demanding complete withdrawal, while Israel insists on holding strategic areas like the southern “Morag corridor.” With both sides sticking to core positions, ceasefire negotiations now hang in limbo.