Discussions between Israeli officials and representatives of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), an armed group fighting alongside Hamas in Gaza, have reached an impasse over key issues in the ongoing ceasefire talks in Qatar.
According to Muhammad al-Hindi, the group’s deputy secretary-general, the current talks aim to reach a framework agreement addressing three main points: the end of Israel’s war, the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip, and mechanisms for the safe distribution of aid.
Al-Hindi emphasized that the framework agreement revolves around these three basic points, starting with the cessation of aggression, which requires guarantees. However, the PIJ does not trust any guarantees due to past experiences where the United States provided guarantees that Israel did not comply with. “The United States provided guarantees, but after Israel took its prisoners, it did not comply,” al-Hindi said, highlighting the skepticism towards potential agreements.
The second issue, the withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, is currently stalled, with the Americans suggesting postponing discussions on this point to focus on the prisoners’ issue. Al-Hindi stressed that the withdrawal is a fundamental issue and must be agreed upon in the framework agreement. “If Israel wants to take Rafah and put up tents on the ruins of Rafah to cram in, starve, and oppress people, this is not a framework agreement,” he continued, underscoring the importance of Israeli withdrawal.
The third issue revolves around the mechanism for distributing aid, with al-Hindi questioning the feasibility of agreeing to “death traps” that have resulted in numerous casualties while people try to get aid. “No one can agree to this,” he said, emphasizing the need to protect the Palestinian people and not offer them as easy prey for Israeli attacks.
Al-Hindi concluded that the Palestinian resistance will not sign any agreement that leads to surrender and the annexation of large areas of the Gaza Strip. The official’s statements highlight the complexities and challenges in reaching a ceasefire agreement, with both sides holding firm positions on key issues.