Militant Palestinian groups Hamas, Islamic Jihad demand Israeli withdrawal before truce

Palestinian militant groups, Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad have reaffirmed their demand for a complete Israeli military withdrawal from the Gaza Strip as a non-negotiable condition for any truce agreement.

 

According to a joint statement released on Monday, July 14, by Hamas, the two factions held a high-level meeting to discuss the progress of ongoing negotiations mediated by international actors in Doha, Qatar, reports Credible News.

 

The talks aim to secure a ceasefire deal and bring an end to months of intense conflict in the besieged territory.

 

The Hamas delegation was led by Muhammad Darwish, who serves as the head of the group’s Shura Council, while the PIJ team was headed by its Secretary-General, Ziyad al-Nakhalah.

 

“The two factions discussed developments in the ongoing negotiations through international mediators and the Israeli side’s responses to the proposals presented to reach a ceasefire agreement,” the Hamas statement read.

 

The Palestinian factions emphasized that a successful agreement must include an end to hostilities and the alleviation of the humanitarian crisis caused by continued Israeli operations in Gaza.

 

A senior Hamas source described the current stage of the negotiations as “critical and complex,” noting that Israeli resistance to specific Palestinian conditions—particularly related to territorial pullout—poses a significant threat to the outcome of the talks.

 

The source added that the most contentious issue is Israel’s reluctance to commit to a clear withdrawal plan, including defined maps. Hamas and PIJ are reportedly demanding that Israel initially retreat to positions held in January 2024 as a first phase, followed by a complete and verifiable pullout from Gaza.

 

Negotiations have been facilitated with the help of multiple international parties, including Qatar, Egypt, and the United States. Despite the diplomatic push, trust between the parties remains low, and previous talks have broken down due to unmet conditions on both sides.

 

As the civilian toll continues to rise in Gaza, humanitarian agencies are also calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities. Both Hamas and PIJ stated that they are committed to achieving a ceasefire that upholds the rights of Palestinians and ensures long-term security in the region.

 

While Israel has yet to issue an official response to the latest demands, government insiders have previously said that any agreement would have to guarantee Israeli security and disarmament of militant groups in Gaza, points that remain unacceptable to Hamas and PIJ.

 

The outcome of this latest phase of talks remains uncertain, but observers note that the unity between Hamas and PIJ in articulating a shared position could add pressure on international mediators to push for more significant Israeli concessions.