Israel is preparing to unveil updated territorial maps during the next round of negotiations set to take place in Qatar on Sunday, according to a report by Channel 12 News. These new maps will outline the Israeli military’s proposed pullback from parts of the Gaza Strip, including sensitive areas like the Morag corridor and surrounding zones.
However, Qatari officials have warned Israel that “the maps presented by Israel will not pass Hamas and may collapse the talks,” indicating that the proposed withdrawals may fall short of Hamas’s expectations and potentially derail the fragile negotiations.
Two Palestinian officials told AFP that a major obstacle in the discussions is Israel’s continued refusal to provide a definitive withdrawal blueprint. “What was presented yesterday seemed like a redeployment of forces, with more than 40% of the Gaza Strip still under Israeli control,” they said, pointing to ongoing dissatisfaction with Israel’s stance.
Meanwhile, Al-Hadath reported that the mediators are awaiting a new version of Israel’s withdrawal plan, which is expected to be delivered by Saturday night in the hope of moving the process forward.
Despite optimistic forecasts from some Israeli and American officials, the negotiations around a potential hostage release deal remain stalled. Over the weekend, there was minimal diplomatic activity, and a resolution on the issue of Israeli forces withdrawing from Gaza remains elusive.
A political official noted earlier in the evening that an agreement could have been finalized had Hamas accepted Qatar’s most recent proposal. Such a development would have paved the way for a 60-day negotiation window to establish a long-term ceasefire aligned with Israeli goals.
This source said the Israeli delegation has been engaged in continuous discussions in Doha — including throughout Shabbos — working closely with mediators from both Egypt and Qatar. They have also been providing consistent briefings to Prime Minister Netanyahu and Minister Dermer.
Israel’s representatives arrived in Doha following their acceptance of the Qatari initiative. However, Hamas rejected the framework, taking a harder line in both its demands and public rhetoric. The terror group has escalated its media campaign to undermine the talks, spread disinformation to Gazans, and exert pressure on the Israeli public. According to the political source, while Israel has shown willingness to compromise, Hamas’s refusal to budge has left the mediators unable to move the negotiations forward.
{Matzav.com}