Israel and Hamas Blame Each Other for Delaying Ceasefire Deal

What Happened?

Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas have accused each other Wednesday of complicating ceasefire efforts to end the 14-month war in Gaza.

The two sides have been in deadlock for months as a discussed truce would reportedly initially last 60 days, with Israeli forces likely to pull out of central city parts of Gaza and the coastal road.

But Hamas has consistently demanded a full withdrawal of Israeli troops that falls short of that request.

'The occupation has set new conditions related to withdrawal, ceasefire, prisoners, and the return of the displaced, which has delayed reaching the agreement that was available,' Hamas said Wednesday in an issued statement.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office accused Hamas on Wednesday of 'lying again' about ongoing hostage-ceasefire discussions, according to reports.

In their statement, Netanyahu’s office says that Hamas has walked back terms it had agreed to, making it 'difficult for the negotiations.'

At least 25 Palestinians reportedly have been killed since dawn, including dozens wounded as Israeli forces continue to pound the besieged Gaza Strip.

Why it Matters

According to Gaza's health ministry, more than 45,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, and over 1,700 Israeli and foreign nationals have been killed since the war began on Oct. 7, 2023.

Around 90% of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents have also been forced from their homes because of the ongoing conflict.

United Nations Assistant Secretary-General Khaled Khiari said a ‘ceasefire is long overdue' as mediation efforts are being led by the U.S., Qatar, and Egypt to help the two sides wrap up a deal.

President-elect Donald Trump has recently warned there would be 'all hell to pay in the Middle East' if hostages held in Gaza are not released by the time he returns to office on Jan. 20.

'We’ve been in this position before where we weren’t able to get it over the finish line,' White House national security spokesperson John Kirby reportedly said during an interview with Fox News last week.

How it Affects You

Hope remains that Israel and Hamas can soon resolve this conflict in exchange for Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners.

The besieged Gaza Strip is in dire need of aid to help reconstruct damaged territory and let displaced families return home.

With Trump's return to office, his decision to insert himself into negotiations has helped push the sides along to influence a deal while the world awaits resolution.