Media: US warns Hamas of losing guarantees without progress on Gaza deal

The United States has warned Hamas that it could withdraw previously agreed guarantees unless the group provides a constructive response to a recent proposal aimed at stabilising the situation in the Gaza Strip, according to Sky News Arabia.

Citing informed sources, the channel informed that Washington delivered a message to Hamas representatives during indirect negotiations with Israel, cautioning that the US may revoke assurances given to the group if it fails to respond positively to the initiative currently under discussion in Doha, Caliber.Az reports. 

The proposal reportedly centres on a series of arrangements designed to de-escalate tensions and lay the groundwork for a broader agreement.

While several elements have been addressed, one key sticking point remains: the depth of a security buffer zone in southern Gaza.

Israeli negotiators are said to be demanding a 1,200-metre-wide buffer, while Hamas is insisting on a limit of 800 metres.

Sources close to the Doha talks described the disagreement as “difficult but solvable.”

Negotiations for a 60‑day Gaza ceasefire—brokered by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt—have entered a critical phase. U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff is travelling this week to Europe and the Middle East (Rome, then Doha) to advance the deal, which links the truce to the release of approximately 10 Israeli hostages and 18 bodies, along with a reciprocal release of Palestinian prisoners.

Israel has reportedly agreed to scale down its presence in the strategically important Morag Corridor, in dialogue with U.S. and Qatari mediators.

Despite this, Hamas has rejected the proposal in its current form, insisting that any temporary truce must lead to a permanent ceasefire and demand the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. Officials say Hamas remains in “internal consultations” without providing an official response.

Meanwhile, the humanitarian situation in Gaza is deteriorating rapidly. More than 100 aid organisations warn of mass starvation across the territory, prompting condemnation from the UN and an international outcry for an immediate ceasefire.

In summary, while diplomatic momentum has accelerated, especially with Trump-era U.S. mediation, key obstacles remain.

The deal hinges on Hamas’s acceptance, Israeli troop redeployments, and linking the temporary truce to broader guarantees for permanence and humanitarian access.

By Aghakazim Guliyev