US Dismisses Hamas' Proposals as Truce Negotiations Falter

Negotiations between Israel and Hamas for a potential ceasefire extension have hit a significant impasse, with the US government condemning Hamas' latest demands and aiming to keep diplomatic efforts alive.

Talks to extend the fragile ceasefire in Gaza have broken down, as a Palestinian official revealed to the BBC that US negotiations in Qatar yielded no agreement. The US has criticized Hamas for presenting "entirely impractical" demands during these discussions.

Following the initial truce, which ended on March 1, negotiators were eager to establish a path forward. The US proposed extending the ceasefire until mid-April, which would include the exchange of additional hostages held by Hamas for those imprisoned by Israel. However, disagreements between Hamas and Israel regarding the proposal have stymied progress.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has deferred commenting but indicated that he would review the negotiations' status with his team over the weekend. Meanwhile, the White House has expressed frustration, stating that Hamas is making a "bad bet" by not recognizing the urgency of the final agreement the US aims to achieve.

In a statement, Hamas acknowledged the breakdown in negotiations, asserting their position while Israel's government criticized Hamas' stance as unyielding.

The ongoing ceasefire deal, established in January, originally comprised three distinct phases. The first phase included a significant exchange, where Hamas returned numerous hostages in return for the release of Palestinian prisoners. However, key aspects of stage two, including the number of forthcoming hostages to be exchanged and the timeline for Israeli troop withdrawal from Gaza, remain unresolved.

Hostilities intensified recently, with Israel enforcing additional limitations on aid and essential services in Gaza to leverage their position further. Reports indicate that Hamas is still detaining up to 24 living hostages and the remains of deceased individuals.

Earlier in March, Hamas expressed readiness to release Edan Alexander, a dual national hostage. While their offer suggested a willingness to negotiate, US envoy Steve Witkoff contended that Hamas' messaging contradicted their true intentions.

The backdrop of violence and loss continues to loom heavily, following the October 7 attacks that claimed over 1,200 lives in Israel and resulted in a massive Israeli military response leading to substantial civilian casualties in Gaza. The humanitarian situation in the region remains dire, with a staggering 90% of Gaza’s housing reported as damaged or destroyed, alongside critical shortages of resources.