Israel's government is considering “alternative options” for ceasefire talks with Hamas, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Friday after Israel and the United States withdrew their negotiating teams, further complicating the future of the talks.
Mr Netanyahu's statement came after a Hamas spokesman said talks were expected to resume next week and described the withdrawal of the Israeli and American delegations as a pressure tactic.
The teams left Qatar on Thursday after President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff said Hamas' latest response to proposals for a deal demonstrated a “lack of desire” to reach a truce.
Mr Wittkoff said the US would consider “alternative options” without elaborating.
In a statement released by his office, Mr Netanyahu repeated his words: “Hamas is an obstacle to the hostage agreement.”
“Together with our US allies, we are now exploring alternative options to bring our hostages home, end Hamas's terrorist rule, and bring lasting peace to Israel and our region,” he said.
He gave no details. The Israeli government has not said whether talks will resume next week.
The Trump administration has failed to achieve a breakthrough in the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas as the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip worsens.
Israel has come under increasing pressure as hunger among more than two million people in the Gaza Strip has worsened and malnutrition-related deaths have risen.
In recent days, more than two dozen pro-Western countries and more than 100 charities and human rights groups have called for an end to the war, sharply criticizing Israel's blockade and the new aid model it has implemented.
Charities and human rights groups said even their own staff were struggling to get enough food.
On Thursday, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that France would recognize Palestine as a state, saying: “The most important thing today is to stop the war in Gaza and save civilians.”
Hamas spokesman Bassem Naim said on Friday he had been told that the Israeli delegation had returned home for consultations and would return early next week to resume ceasefire talks.
The two sides held weeks of talks in Qatar, noting small signs of progress but no major breakthroughs.
Officials said the main sticking point was the redeployment of Israeli troops after the ceasefire agreement.
The deal under discussion is expected to include an initial 60-day ceasefire in which Hamas would gradually release 10 living hostages and the remains of 18 others in exchange for Palestinians held by Israel.
Humanitarian aid will be increased and both sides will negotiate a lasting ceasefire.
The talks have stalled over conflicting demands to end the war.
Hamas says it will release all hostages only in exchange for a full Israeli withdrawal and an end to the war. Israel says it will not agree to an end to the conflict until Hamas relinquishes power and disarms.
The group's militants said they were ready to step down from power, but not to surrender their weapons.
Hamas is believed to be holding hostages in various locations, including tunnels, and says it has ordered its guards to kill them if Israeli troops approach.
There are still about 50 hostages in the Gaza Strip, but less than half of them are believed to be alive.
Meanwhile, Israel continued to strike throughout the Gaza Strip.
Gaza's Health Ministry said about 80 people had died since Thursday evening, most in strikes but nine while seeking help.
One of the strikes hit a school being used as a shelter for displaced people in Gaza City just as people were gathering inside for weekly Friday prayers.
At least five people, including an 11-year-old boy, were killed, according to an Associated Press journalist who saw the bodies.
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
