Hamas Hasn’t Signed Yet: These Are the Key Sticking Points With Israel
Despite reports of progress, Hamas continues to press for demands Israel is unlikely to accept, raising doubts about the viability of a deal.
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Just hours after initial reports last Thursday suggested Hamas had accepted the latest ceasefire framework, the terror group rushed to deny it. Only on Friday night did Hamas officially respond to mediators, stressing that its answer was not a “yes” but rather one given “in a positive spirit.”
That nuance turned out to be significant.
According to Israeli sources and a matching report published by Reuters, several major disputes between Israel and Hamas remain unresolved. Palestinian officials speaking to international media outlined a list of demands by Hamas that Israel considers unacceptable or unrealistic.
One of Hamas's main conditions is a full reopening of the Rafah crossing, allowing the evacuation of wounded individuals and unrestricted entry of humanitarian aid. The group is also demanding the withdrawal of IDF forces from the Philadelphi and Morag corridors, and seeks control over the delivery of between 400 and 600 aid trucks per day into Gaza.
Another point of contention is a clause that would prohibit a return to hostilities under any circumstance as long as negotiations are ongoing. Israeli officials view this as a trap—an effective ban on future military action regardless of developments on the ground.
Hamas is also demanding the dismantling of the U.S.-backed GHF aid mechanism, pushing instead for direct aid distribution through the UN and UNRWA, two organizations Israel has accused of deep complicity with Hamas in the past.
Despite these serious disagreements, Israel has not withdrawn from talks and has sent its delegation to Doha. Still, signs suggest the prospect of a deal is slipping further out of reach.
According to Israeli officials, Hamas appears to be repeating a familiar pattern—dragging out the final stages of negotiations to exert maximum pressure and extract last-minute concessions.
The latest friction may also be the reason behind Prime Minister Netanyahu’s unexpected delay in departing for Washington, as the political and military leadership reassess the situation in light of Hamas’s demands.