GAZA CITY, July 13 — Hopes for a long-awaited ceasefire in Gaza are dimming as negotiations teeter on the edge. Both Israel and Hamas are blaming each other for the lack of progress, while the people of Gaza continue to endure the unbearable consequences of 21 months of relentless war.
Talks in Qatar aimed at reaching a 60-day truce remain stuck. A Palestinian source familiar with the negotiations says Israel’s demand to keep its troops inside Gaza is the major obstacle. Meanwhile, Israeli officials, speaking off the record, accuse Hamas of being unwilling to compromise, suggesting the group is intentionally derailing the process.
While leaders argue over lines on maps, Gaza bleeds.
At least 38 Palestinians lost their lives on Saturday alone. One strike hit a shelter in Gaza City where families had sought safety. “While we were sleeping, there was an explosion… where two boys, a girl and their mother were staying,” said Bassam Hamdan, eyes hollow after the blast. “We found them torn to pieces, their remains scattered.”
Hospitals, already overwhelmed, are treating the wounded with whatever resources remain. In Khan Yunis, bodies arrived wrapped in white plastic. In Rafah, there weren’t even ambulances—donkey carts, stretchers, and arms carried the injured.
In Tel Aviv, thousands protested, urging the Israeli government to reach a deal that would free hostages. “The window of opportunity… is open now and it won’t be for long,” warned Eli Sharabi, a former hostage freed earlier this year.
While both sides reportedly agreed that 10 hostages could be released as part of a deal, deeper disagreements remain. Hamas insists that Israeli troops must fully withdraw. Israel, however, reportedly wants to retain control over more than 40% of Gaza—a move Palestinians say would divide the territory into isolated zones, stripping away basic freedoms.
Mediators have asked both parties to pause and wait for U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff to arrive in Qatar.
Israel claims it’s ready to compromise. A senior official argued that Hamas is the one refusing to move forward, saying, “Israel has demonstrated a willingness to show flexibility… Hamas remains intransigent.”
Meanwhile, Gaza’s humanitarian catastrophe deepens. The death toll in the territory has surpassed 57,882, according to Gaza’s health ministry, while 49 Israeli hostages are still being held—27 of them presumed dead.
In the past 48 hours, Israel’s military reported it struck around 250 targets across Gaza, including 35 Hamas positions in Beit Hanoun. Despite two previous ceasefires that allowed for the release of over 100 hostages, this time, hopes are fading.
And for every day that passes, more lives are lost. More families are broken. More hope is buried beneath the rubble.
The question now isn’t just about borders or politics. It’s about humanity. And the world is watching.
