Hamas has accused Israel of introducing "new conditions" that it says are obstructing a ceasefire agreement in the ongoing Gaza conflict. However, the group noted that negotiations mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States in Doha are still underway.

In a statement on Wednesday, Hamas claimed that Israel's revised demands related to troop withdrawals, the ceasefire framework, prisoner exchanges, and the return of displaced Palestinians had delayed progress. The militant group did not provide specifics about these alleged conditions.

Meanwhile, Israel has not commented publicly on imposing any new conditions. Talks have been ongoing, and Israeli representatives recently returned from Qatar after what Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office described as "significant negotiations."

On Monday, Netanyahu acknowledged "some progress" in the discussions during a parliamentary address. However, a truce remains elusive.

Hamas, alongside Islamic Jihad and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, issued a rare joint statement last week claiming that a ceasefire deal was "closer than ever," contingent on Israel refraining from imposing additional terms. Despite this optimism, key sticking points, including governance and security arrangements for Gaza post-conflict, continue to hinder progress.

Netanyahu has repeatedly stated that Israel will not agree to any settlement that allows Hamas to remain in power. In a recent interview with The Wall Street Journal, he emphasized that removing Hamas from Gaza remains a non-negotiable priority, saying, "We’re not going to leave them in power in Gaza, 30 miles from Tel Aviv. It’s not going to happen."

Israel's insistence on maintaining control over the Philadelphi Corridor—a strip along Gaza's border with Egypt—has further complicated the negotiations.

Devastating Toll of the Conflict
The conflict, which began with Hamas’s unprecedented October 7 attack on Israel, has resulted in widespread devastation. The attack saw militants seize 251 hostages, 96 of whom are still held in Gaza, including 34 believed to be deceased, according to Israeli army estimates.

Israel’s retaliatory airstrikes and military operations in Gaza have led to the deaths of at least 45,361 people, the majority civilians, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. These figures have been corroborated as reliable by the United Nations.

As negotiations continue, the prospect of a durable ceasefire remains uncertain, with both sides locked in a cycle of demands and counter-demands.