By Ali Elias
Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) have jointly reaffirmed that any ceasefire agreement with Israel must include a complete end to the ongoing war and a full Israeli military withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.
The two groups made their stance known during a recent high-level meeting, where they reviewed Israel’s latest responses to proposals made through international mediators. The meeting comes amid a fresh round of indirect negotiations taking place in Doha, Qatar.
According to a statement issued by Hamas, the delegation was led by Muhammad Darwish, head of Hamas’ Shura Council, while the PIJ team was headed by Secretary-General Ziyad al-Nakhalah. Both factions described the negotiations as entering a “critical and complex” phase.
“The two factions discussed developments in the ongoing negotiations through international mediators and the Israeli side’s responses to the proposals presented to reach a ceasefire agreement,” the statement read.
“The demands remain unchanged: an end to the war, relief for civilians, and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.”
A Hamas official familiar with the discussions told reporters that Israel’s hesitation to agree on a clear roadmap for withdrawal remained the key sticking point in the talks. “The main obstacle now is Israel’s refusal to commit to specific withdrawal maps,” the source said.
The two Palestinian groups are reportedly proposing that Israel withdraw to its January 2024 military positions as a first step, followed by a guaranteed full pull-out from the Gaza Strip under the terms of a final agreement.
Despite mounting international pressure for a resolution to the months-long conflict, Israeli officials have so far insisted on security guarantees, including the disarmament of Hamas and other militant factions before agreeing to a permanent ceasefire.
The latest talks come after weeks of renewed hostilities in Gaza, with heavy bombardments and mounting civilian casualties drawing condemnation from humanitarian organisations. According to UN figures, tens of thousands of civilians have been killed or displaced, exacerbating an already dire humanitarian crisis.
The U.S., Egypt, and Qatar have been actively mediating behind the scenes, attempting to bridge the gap between the two sides and prevent further escalation. However, with both Israel and Hamas sticking firmly to their conditions, diplomats warn that a breakthrough remains uncertain.
Analysts say that while Hamas and PIJ’s unified stance adds pressure on Israel, the absence of a clearly defined endgame could prolong the conflict.
“Unless there is a clear, mutually agreed timeline for withdrawal and disarmament, the ceasefire talks could stall once again,” said an international conflict expert based in Doha.
For many Palestinians in Gaza, hopes for a permanent truce remain distant. Still, the insistence by both Hamas and PIJ on ending hostilities and securing a full Israeli withdrawal marks a potentially decisive moment in what has become one of the Middle East’s most intractable crises.