Hamas and Israel have blamed each other for the delay in finalizing a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement in Gaza. Although both sides have recently reported some progress in the discussions, they have yet to sign an agreement.

On Wednesday, updates on the latest progress regarding the ceasefire talks in Gaza were shared. Hamas issued a statement expressing its willingness to show flexibility and stated that discussions were progressing under the mediation of Qatar and Egypt. However, the group also claimed that Israel has imposed new conditions, including the withdrawal of Israeli troops, a ceasefire, prisoner exchanges, and the return of displaced people, all of which have hindered reaching an agreement.

On Monday, Reuters reported that the gap between Israel and Hamas over a possible ceasefire had narrowed, although significant issues remain unresolved.

The United States, Qatar, and Egypt have recently intensified efforts to broker a multistep ceasefire agreement. However, reaching a consensus on the position of Israeli forces remains a major challenge in the talks.

A Palestinian official involved in the discussions revealed that while some contentious issues had been addressed, disagreements persist regarding the future of Israeli troops stationed in Gaza and the list of Palestinian prisoners Israel might release.

Israel's Welfare Minister, Amichai Chikli, expressed concerns, noting that both sides are close to a ceasefire agreement. He emphasized that unresolved issues could determine the success or longevity of any ceasefire.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant reiterated that Israel intends to maintain security control over Gaza through buffer zones and security checkpoints. While Hamas seeks an end to the fighting, Israel insists that its primary goal is to eliminate Hamas’s control in Gaza to ensure there are no further threats to Israeli civilians.

The ongoing operation, one of the most destructive in the 14-month-long conflict, is taking place around three hospitals in Beit Lahiya, Beit Hanoun, and Jabalia.

Palestinians accuse Israel of attempting to permanently depopulate northern Gaza. However, Israel denies these claims, stating that it has instructed civilians to leave the area for their safety.

Israeli airstrikes in Gaza on Wednesday killed at least 24 people, according to health officials. Many casualties occurred in an attack on a refugee shelter in a former school in the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood. The current conflict in Gaza began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched attacks on southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages, which triggered the ongoing war.

Health officials in Gaza, controlled by Hamas, have reported that more than 45,300 Palestinians have died since the start of the Israeli operation against Hamas. The majority of Gaza's 2.3 million residents have been displaced, and much of the region has been reduced to rubble.