Indirect talks between Israel and Hamas on a 60-day ceasefire in the Gaza war have stalled, according to informed sources.

Both sides blame each other for the lack of progress. The aim of the talks in the Qatari capital, Doha, in addition to a ceasefire, is the release of ten live hostages held by Hamas and the handover of the bodies of several abducted people.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is putting obstacles in the way of the talks by continually adding new conditions, a Hamas representative told the German Press Agency (dpa) in Cairo. The Hamas official specifically mentioned that the Israeli delegation had presented new maps for Israel's proposed troop withdrawal from the Gaza Strip. According to Israeli media reports, the Israeli leadership insists on keeping the military in a large area in the south of the Gaza Strip.

Earlier this week, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced that Israel intends to build a so-called "humanitarian city" in the southern Gaza Strip – on the ruins of the border town of Rafah – for 600,000 Palestinians displaced by the war. Critics call it an internment camp that could ultimately lead to forced deportation. Israel speaks of allowing Palestinians a "voluntary departure."

Hamas opposes the continued presence of Israeli troops

According to media reports, the maps presented in Doha take into account the requirements for establishing such a camp. Hamas finds this demand unacceptable. According to their position, the Israeli military should withdraw to the positions it occupied before the collapse of the last ceasefire in March.

Israel accuses Islamists of "uncompromising stance"

Israel accuses Hamas of "sabotage" the talks in Doha with its "uncompromising stance," the Israeli newspaper Yediot Ahronot quoted an Israeli official as saying. "Israel has shown a willingness to be flexible, while Hamas (...) persists in positions that do not allow the mediators to reach an agreement," the official said, according to the paper. However, he added that negotiations would continue.

An independent verification of the statements made by both parties to the conflict is currently not possible.

Qatar, Egypt, and the United States are mediating the indirect talks. In return for the release of the hostages and the handover of the bodies of kidnap victims, Israel will release Palestinian prisoners from its prisons. The details of this part of the agreement have also been negotiated relatively smoothly in previous ceasefires.