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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Friday that his government is considering “alternative options” to halt consultations with Hamas after Israel and the US recall the negotiation team from Qatar and cast more uncertainty on the future of the negotiations.
Netanyahu’s statement came when Hamas officials said negotiations were expected to resume next week and portrayed the recall of Israeli and American delegations as a pressure tactic.
The team left Doha on Thursday, and President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, said Hamas’ latest response to the deal proposal showed a “lack of desire” to reach an armistice.
Witkoff said the US would consider “alternative options” without elaborating.
In a statement released by his office, Netanyahu repeated Witkov, saying, “Hamas is an obstacle to hostage release transactions.”
“Together with our US allies, we are looking at alternative options to bring hostages home, end Hamas’ terror rules and ensure lasting peace in Israel and our region,” he said.
He did not provide further details on what the alternative option was. The Israeli government also refused to respond to whether negotiations will resume next week.
Hamas official Bassem Naim said on Friday that the group was told that Israeli delegation would return to talks and would return to resume ceasefire negotiations early next week.
Pressure on Hamas
Hamas said Witkov’s remarks were intended to put pressure on the group for Netanyahu’s interests in the upcoming consultation, and recent negotiations have progressed.
Naim said several gaps, including the ceasefire agenda, have been largely resolved, and negotiations continued to reach a permanent agreement, ensuring how humanitarian assistance will be provided.
The side gave a few weeks of talks in Qatar, reporting small signs of progress, but no major breakthroughs.
Officials said the main fixation point was the redeployment of Israeli forces after the ceasefire.
The under discussion is expected to include a first 60-day ceasefire in which Hamas will release 10 living hostages and 18 other stages of ruins in exchange for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.
The supply of aid will increase, with both sides negotiating a permanent ceasefire.
The consultations were strayed about competing demands to end the war. Hamas says that in exchange for Israel’s complete withdrawal, they will release only all hostages and end the war.
Israel says it does not agree to end the conflict until Hamas abandons its power and disarms. Extremist groups say they cannot abandon their weapons, but are ready to leave power.
Hamas is believed to hold hostages in various locations, including tunnels, and says that if Israeli forces approached him, he ordered the guards to kill him.
About 50 hostages remain in Gaza, but less than half are thought to be alive. Their family says the start-stop speech is unbearable.
“I thought something was coming since the Israeli team was in Doha,” said Yehuda Cohen, whose son Nimrod was being held hostage.
“And when I hear they’re back, I ask myself: When will this nightmare end?”
The deterioration of the humanitarian situation
The breakthrough in the ceasefire contract between Israel and Hamas escaped the Trump administration as humanitarian conditions continue to deteriorate in Gaza.
Israel has put pressure on Israel as more than 2 million people in Gaza have worsened and malnutrition-related deaths have accelerated.
More than 20 Western countries and more than 100 charities and human rights groups have recently sought an end to the war, and have sternly criticised the Israeli blockade and the new model of aid delivery that it has developed.
Charities and rights groups said even their staff struggled to get access to adequate food.
Additional sources •AP
