As the conflict between Hamas and Israel continues to escalate, hopes for an immediate ceasefire and the release of hostages in the Palestinian Gaza Strip are fading. Mediator Qatar has reported that Israel and Hamas are still far from reaching a ceasefire agreement in Gaza.

Efforts by the US, Qatar, and Egypt to broker a ceasefire and secure the release of hostages have been ongoing for weeks, with the aim of reaching an agreement before the start of the holy month of Ramadan. However, with Ramadan already underway, there is little sign of a breakthrough in the negotiations. Qatar, in a statement on Tuesday, described the situation in Gaza as "very complicated."

According to Majed Al Ansari, spokesperson for Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, "We are not close to an agreement." He emphasized that the differences between the two sides remain significant, making it challenging to reach a consensus on implementing a ceasefire.

While negotiations continue, no specific timeframe has been set for reaching an agreement. Al Ansari cautioned that the situation remains highly complex, indicating that a resolution may not be imminent.

The recent escalation dates back to October 7th, when Hamas launched a major military operation targeting Israel. During the operation, Hamas fighters seized over 200 individuals, including Israeli soldiers, and took them captive to Gaza.

Hamas has demanded the release of hundreds of Palestinian women and children held in Israeli prisons in exchange for the release of the Israeli prisoners. While a four-day ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement was reached in the past, Hamas continues to hold approximately 150 Israeli prisoners, insisting on a comprehensive ceasefire and the release of all Palestinian prisoners before releasing them.

Israel, despite conducting numerous raids, has been unable to secure the release of the remaining prisoners held by Hamas. The current standoff underscores the deep-rooted tensions and complexities surrounding the conflict between Hamas and Israel, with no immediate resolution in sight.