Negotiations between Israel and Hamas for a cease-fire continue to face significant hurdles, with Hamas leaders demanding guarantees of safety among other conditions. One of the central figures in the negotiations, Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar, has reportedly emphasized that his security and well-being must be ensured as part of any cease-fire agreement. “Sinwar emphasizes that the security of his life and well-being must be ensured,” an Egyptian official told Israeli outlet Ynet.
Cease-fire talks have involved officials from the United States, Israel, Egypt, and Qatar. Earlier this week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accepted a cease-fire proposal, according to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. However, Hamas representatives found the deal unsatisfactory, with an unnamed Egyptian official telling The Associated Press that Hamas is seeking guarantees rather than mere promises.
Hamas has refused to accept a U.S.-backed proposal that would involve the release of civilian hostages in exchange for a six-week pause in fighting without guarantees of a permanent cease-fire. The proposal also lacks a clear commitment from Israel to withdraw forces from two strategic corridors in Gaza—the Philadelphi corridor along the border with Egypt and the Netzarim corridor across the territory. While Israel has offered to downsize its presence in the Philadelphi corridor with promises of eventual withdrawal, Hamas has remained unconvinced.
Egyptian officials have expressed frustration with Netanyahu’s handling of the negotiations, criticizing him for making public statements about potential agreements. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty reportedly told Blinken that Netanyahu should have approached any temporary understandings with Egypt more discreetly.
One of the most pressing issues for Egyptian negotiators has been the control of the Gaza side of the Rafah crossing. Egypt has pushed for the Palestinian Authority to manage the crossing, but Israel has rejected proposals for a multinational task force to oversee the Philadelphi corridor.
Sinwar became the group’s top official after former chief Ismail Haniyeh died in an explosion in Tehran last month, an incident that Iranian officials have blamed on Israel. Sinwar has remained steadfast in his demands for safety guarantees and has justified the heavy toll of casualties in Gaza as “necessary sacrifices,” comparing them to Algeria’s fight for independence from France.
Israel has maintained its position that it is open to negotiations. “We are fighting Hamas as if there are no negotiations, and we are negotiating as if there is no war,” an Israeli official told The Times of Israel, echoing Netanyahu’s stance that military and diplomatic pressure must continue to be applied to Hamas. The official reiterated Israel’s support for a “bridging deal” proposed in Doha, Qatar, but emphasized that fighting will persist until Israel achieves its objectives.
Sinwar’s uncompromising stance has started to draw criticism from some Hamas supporters across the Arab world. Palestinian-Syrian commentator Mohamad Kial pointed out the high death toll among Palestinians since the conflict began, questioning the logic of Sinwar’s strategy. In an article published in an Arab media outlet, Kial highlighted that the current death toll is significantly higher than during previous conflicts, with a disproportionate ratio of Palestinian to Israeli casualties.
Meanwhile, Israel continues its operations in Gaza. On Wednesday, Israeli forces claimed to have defeated the Hamas Rafah brigade and destroyed over 150 tunnels in the region. Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant stressed the importance of maintaining focus on the war’s goals, particularly regarding Hamas and the hostages the group holds, during a situational assessment with senior IDF officials in Gaza.
