Informed sources: The Israeli delegation's map in the negotiations keeps Rafah under occupation.

Sources told Al Jazeera that the redeployment map presented by the Israeli delegation in the indirect negotiations underway in the Qatari capital, Doha, leaves the entire city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip under occupation. They noted that the map paves the way for the implementation of a displacement plan by making Rafah a concentration area for displaced persons, who will be relocated to Egypt or by sea.

The sources added to Al Jazeera that the map extends deep into the Gaza Strip along its border, extending in some areas to 3 kilometers, and includes large parts of the city of Beit Lahia, the village of Umm al-Nasr, most of Beit Hanoun, and all of Khuza'a.

The same sources indicated that the Israeli redeployment map is approaching Al-Sikka Street in the areas of Al-Tuffah, Al-Shuja'iyya, and Al-Zeitoun, and extending to Salah Al-Din Street in Deir Al-Balah and Al-Qarara.

The Israeli redeployment map also erodes 40% of the Gaza Strip's area, preventing 700,000 Palestinians from returning to their homes, forcing them to displacement centers in Rafah.

The main disagreement

For its part, Israel's Channel 12 reported a stalemate in the Doha talks, but that they would continue through Saturday. It quoted Israeli officials as saying there had been no progress in the talks over the past 24 hours due to the Israeli military withdrawal maps.

Channel 12 reported that the main disagreement in the Doha negotiations is the extent of Israel's withdrawal from the territories it controls in the Gaza Strip, claiming that Tel Aviv agreed to withdraw from the Morag axis, which separates Rafah from Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip, in exchange for maintaining its control over Rafah.

The channel quoted two sources familiar with the details of the negotiations as confirming that the new map presented by Israel includes a withdrawal from the Morag Road, which is approximately 4-5 kilometers from the Gaza-Egypt border.

However, the channel noted that, according to the same map, Israel still insists on keeping its army forces approximately 2-3 kilometers north of the Philadelphi Road (the border between Gaza and Egypt).

She added: "There, the government wants to establish a refugee camp for hundreds of thousands of Palestinians, in preparation for their possible future displacement."

Last Monday, Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz revealed the outlines of a new Israeli plan to establish what he called a "humanitarian city" of tents on the ruins of Rafah. The plan includes transferring 600,000 Palestinians to the city in an initial phase after undergoing strict security screening. They will not be allowed to leave later.

The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) demanded that the Israeli army withdraw to the positions it held before resuming its war of extermination in the Gaza Strip on March 18.

According to Channel 12, Israel is also demanding the establishment of a buffer zone along the Gaza Strip border, ranging in width from several hundred meters to nearly two kilometers in some areas.

Sources indicated that negotiations on this issue are still ongoing in an attempt to bridge the gaps.

On Thursday, the Israeli Broadcasting Authority announced that Witkov would arrive in Doha within a few days to advance the talks between the two sides.

Over the course of approximately 20 months, several rounds of indirect negotiations were held between Israel and Hamas regarding a ceasefire and prisoner exchange, mediated by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States.

During this period, two ceasefire agreements were reached, the first in November 2023 and the second in January 2025, which included partial prisoner exchange agreements.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court, evaded the completion of the latest agreement and resumed the genocide in Gaza on March 18.

The Israeli opposition asserts that Netanyahu is only interested in partial deals that ensure the continuation of the war, to further his personal political interests, particularly his continued rule, in deference to the more extreme right-wing faction within his government.

Tel Aviv estimates there are 50 Israeli prisoners in Gaza, 20 of whom are still alive. Meanwhile, more than 10,800 Palestinians are languishing in its prisons, suffering torture, starvation, and medical neglect, many of whom have died, according to Palestinian and Israeli human rights and media reports.

Since October 7, 2023, Israel, with US support, has been committing genocide in the Gaza Strip, leaving more than 195,000 Palestinians dead or wounded, most of them children and women, and more than 10,000 missing. Hundreds of thousands have been displaced, and famine has claimed the lives of many, including dozens of children.

Source: Al Jazeera