The abrupt withdrawal of US and Israeli delegations from recent ceasefire talks has stalled international efforts to end the Gaza war, but a less visible issue compounds the crisis: Hamas’s internal communication breakdown.

Senior official Khalil al-Hayya claimed progress in Doha, with agreements on Israeli withdrawal, prisoner exchanges, and aid delivery, but accused Israel of sabotaging talks to perpetuate the “genocide.” However, Hamas’s own operational challenges are undermining its ability to negotiate effectively.

The war’s devastation since October 2023 has severed communication lines between its political bureau abroad and military command in Gaza. Messages now rely on slow, manual methods like verbal relays or handwritten notes, delaying decisions by days.

This fragmentation hampers Hamas’s ability to respond swiftly to mediation proposals, allowing Israel to exploit perceived disarray. Analysts note that while Hamas remains ideologically cohesive, its infrastructure is crippled, creating a “war-induced institutional paralysis.”

Mediators like Egypt and Qatar struggle to engage a disjointed movement, with responses often lacking authority. This internal crisis, coupled with Israel’s aggressive tactics, dims prospects for a truce, as Hamas fights to function as a unified actor amid relentless violence and siege.