Negotiations between Hamas and Israel on a ceasefire face significant obstacles.

A senior official of the Islamist group Hamas, Osama Hamdan, confirmed on Saturday that there have been no advances in the talks with Israel regarding a ceasefire in the Gaza war. At a press conference in Beirut, Hamdan stated that Hamas remains willing to positively consider any proposal that would end the violence in the region, but so far a satisfactory agreement has not been reached. Despite efforts by Arab mediators backed by the United States, the negotiations have not resulted in a definitive ceasefire. Hamas insists that any agreement must mean an end to the war and the complete withdrawal of Israel from Gaza, while Israel is only willing to accept temporary pauses in the fighting until Hamas, in power since 2007, is eliminated. Osama Hamdan blamed the United States for pressuring Hamas to accept Israel's conditions. In his statement, he reiterated the group's willingness to accept any proposal that guarantees a lasting ceasefire, the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip, and a serious prisoner exchange agreement between both sides. Since militants under the leadership of Hamas carried out attacks in southern Israel on October 7, an estimated 1,200 people have died and more than 250 have been taken as hostages, according to reports from Israel. In retaliation, the Israeli offensive has resulted in the deaths of nearly 38,000 people, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, leaving the coastal enclave in ruins. Hamas is seeking written guarantees from the United States for a permanent ceasefire and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza before signing any proposal backed by the U.S., according to Egyptian security sources. Although Hamas responded to President Biden's phased ceasefire plan at the end of May, concerns about guarantees for the transition between stages remain a sticking point. Biden's plan includes the gradual release of Israeli hostages in Gaza, the withdrawal of Israeli forces in two phases, and the release of Palestinian prisoners. Despite the U.S. claiming that Israel has accepted the proposal, Israel has not publicly confirmed it. Hamas demands clear guarantees on the transition between phases to consider the plan, and Egypt is in contact with the U.S. to address this concern. In summary, the negotiations between Hamas and Israel on a ceasefire in the Gaza war have faced significant obstacles. As violence and destruction continue in the region, the need for an agreement to end the bloodshed becomes increasingly urgent, but the substantial differences between the parties involved make achieving a peaceful resolution in the short term challenging.