Gaza Welcomes 2025 with “Wasted Hope”: Talks of a “Deadlock” in Negotiations

1st January 2025

2 minutes read

Gaza Welcomes 2025 with "Wasted Hope": Talks of a "Deadlock" in Negotiations

The new year began for the people of Gaza in a way they had not hoped for, as discussions resurface about a deadlock in negotiations over a ceasefire in the region.

In recent weeks, hopes had risen for an agreement between Israel and the Hamas movement to establish a ceasefire in Gaza and finalize a prisoner exchange. However, the American newspaper Wall Street Journal reported that “the Gaza ceasefire agreement could slip out of President Joe Biden‘s grasp,” noting that “the talks have reached a deadlock due to ongoing disagreements between Hamas and Israel over the details.”

Gaza Ceasefire Agreement

The newspaper, quoting Arab mediators, stated that “reaching any agreement before the end of Biden‘s term (on January 20) is unlikely.” They added that “Hamas has renewed its insistence that Israel commit to a permanent truce,” a condition Israel has long rejected.

The mediators also noted that Israel has refused to release some detainees demanded by Hamas, asserting that it will only accept the return of live hostages held by the movement as part of any deal.

Reports indicated that Hamas rejected releasing 12 of the 34 hostages requested by Israel, instead offering to free 22 live hostages and return 12 bodies.

The discussions have centered around a 60-day ceasefire in exchange for the release of hostages under certain conditions.

An American source told the newspaper that the primary gap between the two sides remains the number of Israeli prisoners to be released.

Trump‘s Threat

Officials anticipate that an agreement will not be reached before Donald Trump enters the White House on January 20. Trump, who has renewed his threats against Hamas, stated: “It would be better for Hamas to release the hostages it holds as soon as possible.”

Trump made this statement to reporters while on his way to a New Year’s celebration at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.

Hamas is holding around 100 Israelis in the Gaza Strip, which has suffered massive destruction due to the ongoing war since October 2023.

After repeated failures throughout 2024 to reach an agreement to end the war and facilitate the exchange of hostages held by Hamas and prisoners in Israeli jails, efforts to broker a truce have intensified.

Trump had previously vowed a “historic strike” and a “heavy price” against Hamas if it did not release the Israeli hostages before he officially assumed office.

Hamas started the new year by launching a rocket attack on Israeli settlements near Gaza, an escalation that has intensified in recent days after a period of relative calm in attacks on Israel.

According to the Israeli Broadcasting Authority, air defenses intercepted a rocket fired from Gaza.