Source: Hamas negotiators have been unable to reach group’s Gaza leaders, slowing hostage talks

Hamas’s negotiators in Doha have been unable to reach the group’s leaders in Gaza since late last week, preventing talks for a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal from moving forward, a source familiar with the matter tells The Times of Israel.

Last week, Israel submitted updated maps showing its proposed redeployment of troops during the 60-day truce under discussion. The maps had mediators bullish about the chances for an agreement as they envisioned Israel coming down from previous demands to remain in control over larger swaths of Gaza territory, Arab diplomats told The Times of Israel at the time, adding that they expected Hamas to approve the Israeli maps.

But Hamas deliberations on the updated Israeli proposal have continued since Thursday with no response from the terror group, the source says, lamenting the daily loss of Palestinian lives in Gaza that have taken place in the interim.

The source adds that Israel’s decision to enter the central Gaza city of Deir al-Balah for the first time since the start of the war may further harm efforts to reach Hamas’s leaders in order to respond to developments in the Doha negotiations.

With frustration growing from mediators over perceived Hamas foot-dragging, the source indicates that the group will likely issue a statement in the coming hours declaring that it is conducting internal deliberations on the Israeli proposal in a positive manner.

An Arab diplomat separately tells The Times of Israel that despite the delay in Hamas’s response, mediators are still optimistic about the chances of reaching an agreement in the coming days, given the softened Israeli stance on its troop redeployment and Hamas’s willingness to forgo its demand for an upfront Israeli commitment for a permanent ceasefire.