Failure of Gaza deal sparks suspicion

The latest round of Gaza cease-fire talks ended with no deal, raising suspicions of delaying tactics and a diplomatic smoke screen of a joint "Israel-US project serving Israel's campaign of destruction", experts say.

Despite optimistic statements from the United States, the resumption of weeklong talks in Cairo, Egypt- and earlier in Doha, Qatar — ended on Sunday with neither Hamas nor Israel reaching an agreement.

Majd Abuamer, a researcher at the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies in Doha, said the US cannot be seen merely as a supporter of Israel or a mediator in the cease-fire talks, noting that talks are focused on technical and logistical details.

"The real objective behind the ongoing negotiations in Doha and Cairo … is to divert attention from the situation in Gaza and to give Israel more time to complete its campaign of destruction," Abuamer said.

Israel had sustained its retaliatory military operations amid talks even throughout the Paris Olympics, issuing evacuation orders as it continued bombing schools and refugee camps.

The health ministry in Gaza said on Monday that at least 40,435 people have been killed in the conflict between Israel and Palestinian militants, now in its 11th month.

Abuamer said it should not be forgotten that reaching a cease-fire agreement does not necessarily entail ending the military campaign.

"Despite reaching agreements, Israel often fails to adhere to them and instead continues with its policy of assassinations and bombings, which reignites the conflict," he said.

Hamas said its delegation demanded that Israel accept what had been agreed upon on July 2, based on US President Joe Biden's proposal and the United Nations Security Council resolution, Xinhua News Agency reported.

Furthermore, the delegation reportedly stressed that any agreement must include a permanent cease-fire, Israel's complete withdrawal from Gaza, the return of residents to their homes and prisoner-hostage exchange.

Intense point

One of the intense points of contention was Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's demand that the Israel Defense Forces continue to be deployed along the Philadelphi Corridor that stretches the entirety of Gaza's border with Egypt, US media outlet Axios reported.

On Friday, White House national security spokesman John Kirby, speaking to reporters, denied that the cease-fire talks were on the verge of collapse. Israeli authorities have said they will join the talks on their terms.

"The cease-fire talks in Cairo seem less about peace and more about power plays, with progress being announced but nothing concrete emerging," Arhama Siddiqa, a research fellow at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad in Pakistan, told China Daily.

Negotiations have become "a well-worn tool in the US-Israel strategy" that gives the appearance of diplomacy but the situation on the ground tells a much different story, Siddiqa said.

The "narrative of progress" allows Israel to continue its operations, with each passing day bringing more destruction to Gaza, she said.

"It's hard to ignore the suspicion that this is a delaying tactic, a diplomatic smoke screen behind which Israel carries out its military objectives.

"The US speaks of progress, but the lack of tangible results suggests the talks are more about stalling than stopping the violence."

The question of the Philadelphi Corridor only deepens the deadlock, with its future tied to broader strategic goals rather than immediate peace, she said.

Furthermore, the delay seems to work in Israel's favor, she added. "Each day the talks stretch out, more ground is covered, more homes are destroyed, more lives are lost."

Late on Sunday, Israel issued new evacuation orders for Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip, forcing more families to flee, saying its forces intended to act against Hamas and others operating in the area.

Recently, Israel has issued several evacuation orders across Gaza, the most since the beginning of the conflict, prompting an outcry from Palestinians, the UN and relief officials over the reduction of humanitarian zones and the absence of safe areas.

The Deir al-Balah municipality says Israeli evacuation orders have so far displaced 250,000 people.

Agencies contributed to this story.