In the ongoing efforts to find peace in the Gaza war, mediators have faced significant challenges. The prime minister of Qatar, a key negotiator, explained that a full peace agreement between Israel and Hamas is not currently possible. The two sides have very different ideas about how to end the conflict.
Initially, the goal was to create a lasting peace deal. However, the mediators quickly realized that neither side was willing to compromise on major issues. A compromise happens when each side gives up something they want in order to reach an agreement.
Because of this difficulty, the mediators changed their strategy. They decided to prioritize a more immediate and achievable goal. Their new focus became a hostage-prisoner exchange, which could be organized more quickly and would have a direct humanitarian benefit.
This decision means that the deeper, more complex negotiations about a long-term solution have been postponed. By focusing on the prisoner swap, the mediators hope to build a small amount of trust and bring some relief to the families involved, even if the larger conflict remains unresolved.