Doha talks fell flat over hostage exchange, IDF withdrawal, Hamas source tells CNN
Israeli Foreign Ministry officials staed that Hamas had “only hardened its stance, and in fact, there has been a regression in its position during the negotiations.”
Ceasefire and hostage deal negotiations fell apart between Israel and Hamas over two sticking points: the exchange of Palestinian prisoners for Gaza hostages and the timetable for Israel’s withdrawal, CNN reported on Friday, citing a senior Hamas official.
The source told CNN that Hamas had submitted two proposals regarding the sticking points shortly before Israeli and US delegates left talks early on Thursday.
US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff said after the meetings that Hamas showed “a lack of desire to reach a ceasefire in Gaza.”
Displaced Palestinians shelter in tents in Jabalya refugee camp, in the northern Gaza Strip, May 8, 2025. (credit: REUTERS/Mahmoud Issa)
What were the sticking points?
CNN reported that according to the Hamas proposal, Israel would exchange 200 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences in addition to 2,000 Gazan prisoners in exchange for 10 living hostages.
In exchange for the bodies of Israeli hostages, the terror group would receive “10 corpses of Palestinians plus 50 prisoners from Gaza who were captured after October 7, and women and children under the age of 18, to be named by Hamas.”
The Hamas proposal, as seen by CNN, also detailed what the terror group sought in regards to an IDF withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.
In the proposal, Israel would have withdrawn 800 meters from populated areas in northern Gaza and 1,000 meters from unpopulated ones. In Rafah, the IDF would have pulled back anywhere from 700 to 1,200 meters, depending on the part of the city.
“The occupation withdraws gradually at a rate of 50 meters per week from the Philadelphi corridor,” the document said. “On the 50th day, it will withdraw from the entire Philadelphi line.”
The Jerusalem Post previously reported that another significant gap in negotiations was the delivery of humanitarian aid.
“Israel had agreed to the (US) framework for a hostage release and ceasefire, but Hamas has only hardened its stance, and in fact, there has been a regression in its position during the negotiations,” an Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesperson said, according to CNN.
Israeli and US negotiators have stated that they are now working on alternative ways to bring the hostages home.
“Hamas is the obstacle to a hostage release deal. Together with our US allies, we are now considering alternative options to bring our hostages home, end Hamas’s terror rule, and secure lasting peace for Israel and our region,” said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.